The team is hoping to finish the regular season in the top six seeds in the ACC to get a bye in the conference tournament and is currently in sixth place. While this loss doesn't affect the ACC standings, it could be a real momentum crusher for the Tar Heels.
“It’s been a little run here near the end; hopefully we learned something,” head coach Donna J. Papa said. “Our destiny is kind of in our own hands.”
Sunday’s doubleheader provided UNC the opportunity to pick up a series win and its fourth and fifth consecutive wins.
North Carolina is coming off its first ACC series win over Boston College after a struggling season thus far, but was unable to advance its win streak to three.
Both teams struggled to get the bats moving in the first two innings of Wednesday’s game, but the breakout third inning for South Carolina gave the home team a healthy lead.
UNC entered this matchup on a two-game losing streak and in serious danger of missing the NCAA tournament after losing five of its last six.
UNC's Kenna Raye Dark proved essential in this win. She pitched the entirety of the game, allowing only one hit. The pitcher also had one hit and two RBIs to contribute offensively as well.
After going 2-2 at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, this matchup was the first for North Carolina at Anderson Softball Field and kicked off six consecutive home games.
In her first meet at Carmichael Arena since her injury — UNC’s home opener against N.C. State — she set North Carolina’s record for the highest single-event score with a 9.975 on bars.
UNC came out hot, and the 12-0 run in the first quarter made it clear that the team was thriving early on in this game.
