The UNC softball team’s 2025 season came to an end with a pair of losses to Ohio State and Miami-Ohio in the NCAA Tournament’s Knoxville Regional during the weekend.

Carolina took an early lead against the Buckeyes in the opening game Friday, scoring three runs in the top of the first. But Ohio State chipped away at the deficit, scoring one run in the second, third and fourth innings to tie the game. UNC briefly retook the lead with a run in the fifth, but the Buckeyes scored four in the bottom of the inning and then two in the sixth to build a 9-4 lead. The Tar Heels managed just a pair of runs in the top of the seventh and fell 9-6.

The next day, UNC fell behind as Miami-Ohio scored four runs in the top of the second. It would be all the damage the RedHawks would do on the day, but it was enough to eliminate the Tar Heels. Carolina cut the deficit to 4-3 with runs in the third, fourth and sixth, but went down in order in the seventh to bow out of the NCAA Tournament.

UNC ends the season 40-17 overall in its second season under head coach Megan Smith Lyon. Its 40 wins are the most in a single season since 2017, and its NCAA Tournament bid was the program’s first since 2019.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini

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