CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University softball team was able to scatter five hits on nationally-ranked University of North Carolina, but was unable to plate any runs in the 7-0 road loss at Anderson Stadium Tuesday afternoon.
The Tar Heels, who are currently ranked No. 22 by D1softball.com and receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls, used a big four-run third inning to break open the game and avenge a 3-1 loss to the Eagles at the end of last season.
North Carolina (6-5) tallied 11 total hits, including nailing three home runs, on the way to moving back over .500 on the season.
NCCU (0-3) had five hits with each base knock coming off a different Eagle bat.
Junior designated player Zoe Goodman had the big hit in the breakout third, drilling a two-run homer over the centerfield fence. Goodman's second home run of the season capped the four-run frame.
NC Central had a few chances to score around the Tar Heels outburst.
The Eagles were held off the scoreboard in the top of the third despite an infield single by junior
Nadia Blevins and a single down the left-field line by classmate
Jacobia Johnson.
An inning later, NCCU got its first runner in scoring position when junior
Olivia Daniel smashed a double down the right field line just out of the reach of the racing outfielder.
However, sophomore starting pitcher Hannah George ended both dangerous frames with a strikeout. George (5-2), an ACC All-Freshman Team selection last season, tossed her first shutout of the season with seven strikeouts.
The Heels tacked on one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth, with the late insurance runs including a pinch hit home run by sophomore Kiersten Licea and George helping her own cause with a solo shot.
Sophomore
Madison Mifsud, who had two hits in NCCU's victory over North Carolina last season, had a pinch-hit single for the Eagles in the sixth.
The Eagles nearly ended George's shutout bid in the top of the seventh. Senior
Dalika Wallace drew a leadoff walk and advance to scoring position on NCCU's fifth and final hit off the bat of senior
Tamiera Sanchez, a one-out infield single. Freshman pinch hitter
Randa Motsinger then nearly singled through the right side of the infield, but a diving stop by the second baseman resulted in the force out and an ensuing run-down of Wallace in a pickle trying to score from third ended the contest.
Junior starting hurler
Kiara Hurley (0-2) suffered the complete-game loss, allowing seven runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts.
NC Central next plays at No. 21 ranked University of South Carolina on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
