The UNC softball team ended its 2022 home opener with a bang Wednesday night, using a 10-run fifth inning to finish off North Carolina A&T via the eight-run rule. Due to Carolina taking a 10-2 lead, the game was halted early.

The Tar Heels trailed early on, on the strength of an Aggies home run and RBI double in the second and fourth innings. To begin the bottom of the fifth, the Tar Heels manufactured their first two runs without the ball leaving the infield: junior Destiny Middleton stole second after a walk, then took third on a wild pitch to graduate Sara Jubas, who took first on a walk as well. Jubas and Middleton then executed a double steal, with Jubas taking second and Middleton coming home on the play. Jubas advanced to third on another wild pitch, before sophomore Kianna Jones drove her in with an infield single.

The Aggie wheels came off after that. After an RBI groundout gave Carolina the lead, two more runs came home on a throwing error by the Aggie pitcher to make it 5-2. A walk and hit by pitch ensured the Tar Heels would bat around in the inning, before Jubas drove in two more runners with a single to center. With her team now up 7-2, sophomore Kianna Jones stepped to the plate with two on. One crack of the bat later, she ended the game with a no-doubter to center field. Her three-run blast was her third of the season, and moved the Tar Heels to 7-4 overall in 2022.

Carolina, back at home for the first time all season, will hit the road again this weekend to take part in the Georgia Classic in Athens. That event will get underway with the Tar Heels facing Bryant and Georgia in a doubleheader on Friday.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini

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