There’s no question which team reigned supreme at this weekend’s Carolina Classic in Columbia, S.C. The UNC softball team beat all comers in the four-game event, emerging from the weekend 4-0. It’s the team’s best start to a season in a decade.

The weekend began with Carolina facing off against George Washington on Friday. Senior Hannah George was dominant all day, pitching a complete game shutout and scattering just three hits over seven innings. Sophomore Carsyn Snead, in as a pinch-runner, scored UNC’s only run of the day after stealing third and scoring on a throwing error in the bottom of the third. It was all the Tar Heels would need, as George slammed the door on a 1-0 opening day victory for Carolina.

There would be plenty more runs in the team’s second game against Lipscomb on Saturday. The Tar Heels banged out 14 hits after managing just two on Friday, and would need every one of them against the Bison. Lipscomb struck for a run in the bottom of the first, but UNC answered with three in the top of the second, punctuated by junior Destiny Middleton’s RBI single. Lipscomb would plate three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, before Carolina ran across two in the top of the third. The Tar Heels would hold the lead from there, getting valuable insurance from sophomore Kiannah Pierce’s two-RBI triple in the fifth. The 9-6 victory moved UNC into Sunday’s doubleheader with a 2-0 record.

Carolina would match up against a familiar foe in Sunday’s first game. Against Virginia, George once again dominated from the circle, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings. The bats provided just a bit more run support this time, with shortstop Sara Jubas plating Middleton with an RBI groundout in the first. The Tar Heels scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to seal the win over the Cavaliers, 5-0.

The second game against South Carolina would see the two sides deadlocked at 3-3 entering the sixth inning. Redshirt sophomore Kianna Jones broke the tie with authority, sending a solo shot over the center field fence to give the Tar Heels the lead. Four more runs in the top of the seventh broke the game open, sealing UNC’s 8-3 win and clinching a 4-0 start.

The Tar Heels will travel to Elon on Wednesday for a road matchup before entering The Spring Games in Leesburg, FL, the following weekend. Carolina won’t play a home game until February 23.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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