Opening the season with a tough doubleheader on Friday as part of the JoAnne Graf Classic in Tallahassee, the UNC softball team came up short in upset bids against both No. 2 Alabama and No. 9 Florida State.

UNC fell behind 5-0 in its first game of the day against Alabama, but scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning to try and make things interesting. The Crimson Tide, however, held strong and got the save from reliever Sarah Cornell in the seventh inning–claiming a 5-2 victory.

In the second game of the day, the Tar Heels took Florida State into extra innings before falling by a score of 2-1. After allowing the Seminoles to go ahead 1-0 in the first inning, UNC pitcher Brittany Pickett settled in and tossed six consecutive shutout innings before allowing Florida State to break through with a walk-off bunt single by Kiersten Lander in the bottom of the eighth.

Up Next:

The Tar Heels return to action on Saturday with another doubleheader, first taking on Detroit Mercy then getting a rematch with Alabama.

 

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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