Photo by: Jerome M. Ibrahim
Offense Erupts As Softball Beats Saint Joseph's, 18-3
February 28, 2025 | Softball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – "Quality at bat, pass it off". That's what the Tar Heels dugout kept thinking to themselves on Friday night en route to an impressive 18-3 win over Saint Joseph's as Carolina softball improved to 10-0 at Anderson Softball Stadium this season.
The offense scored early and it scored often. Alex Coleman and Lexie Roberts got on base to kick the bottom of the first off, and as she's done all season long, Kat Rodriguez brought Coleman home to make it a 1-0 lead. Just two pitches later, Sanaa Thompson took an 0-1 pitch to the opposite field for her second homer of the year to give the Tar Heels a 4-0 lead while extending her hitting streak to eight games.
After a three-run homer from the Hawks made it 4-3, UNC responded immediately. Lexie Roberts continued to stay hot with a two-RBI single to make it 6-3.
In the third Carlie Myrtle went yard for the fourth time this season to set a new single season career high. A few batters later, Roberts reached on an error which led to Rayna Blackwell coming up. Then Rodriguez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and cleared them on the first pitch to take a commanding 11-3 lead.
Myrtle led off the fourth with her second homer of the night, this time it was off the flag pole in left center. Coleman plated Caroline Fox which loaded the bases for Rodriguez yet again. Not only did she clear the bases once again, she hit a grand slam to score herself too.
Rodriguez finished the day going 3-4 with two doubles and a grand slam go with eight RBI which is a new career-high.
The top five hitters in the lineup accounted for all 18 runs. They went a combined 13-20 at the plate with four homers, seven singles, two doubles, 12 runs, and 17 RBI.
Not to be forgotten in the offensive explosion, Nikki Harris moved to 7-0 on the season with another complete game. In her first start since her no-hitter, the sophomore fanned six Hawks over five innings allowing just three hits.
UNC continues to dominate at home, outscoring teams 96-10 in ten games, allowing just seven earned runs in the process. Pitchers are throwing to the tune of a 0.84 ERA while throwing seven complete games. Tonight was the fourth consecutive complete game thrown by a Tar Heel pitcher. The Carolina offense is now slashing .427/.512/.649 at home smacking 11 home runs as well.
The Tar Heels are back in action with two tomorrow, beginning with Kent State at 12:30 p.m. and then Harvard at 3 p.m.
The offense scored early and it scored often. Alex Coleman and Lexie Roberts got on base to kick the bottom of the first off, and as she's done all season long, Kat Rodriguez brought Coleman home to make it a 1-0 lead. Just two pitches later, Sanaa Thompson took an 0-1 pitch to the opposite field for her second homer of the year to give the Tar Heels a 4-0 lead while extending her hitting streak to eight games.
After a three-run homer from the Hawks made it 4-3, UNC responded immediately. Lexie Roberts continued to stay hot with a two-RBI single to make it 6-3.
In the third Carlie Myrtle went yard for the fourth time this season to set a new single season career high. A few batters later, Roberts reached on an error which led to Rayna Blackwell coming up. Then Rodriguez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and cleared them on the first pitch to take a commanding 11-3 lead.
Myrtle led off the fourth with her second homer of the night, this time it was off the flag pole in left center. Coleman plated Caroline Fox which loaded the bases for Rodriguez yet again. Not only did she clear the bases once again, she hit a grand slam to score herself too.
Rodriguez finished the day going 3-4 with two doubles and a grand slam go with eight RBI which is a new career-high.
The top five hitters in the lineup accounted for all 18 runs. They went a combined 13-20 at the plate with four homers, seven singles, two doubles, 12 runs, and 17 RBI.
Not to be forgotten in the offensive explosion, Nikki Harris moved to 7-0 on the season with another complete game. In her first start since her no-hitter, the sophomore fanned six Hawks over five innings allowing just three hits.
UNC continues to dominate at home, outscoring teams 96-10 in ten games, allowing just seven earned runs in the process. Pitchers are throwing to the tune of a 0.84 ERA while throwing seven complete games. Tonight was the fourth consecutive complete game thrown by a Tar Heel pitcher. The Carolina offense is now slashing .427/.512/.649 at home smacking 11 home runs as well.
The Tar Heels are back in action with two tomorrow, beginning with Kent State at 12:30 p.m. and then Harvard at 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harris, Nikki (7-0)
L: Marla Freiwald (1-1)
Batting:
HR: Jenna Currie 1
RBI: Jenna Currie 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Meghan Sinkus 1 ; Riley York 1 ; Jenna Currie 1
SB: Jayda Shehadi 1

Batting:
2B: Kat Rodriguez 2
HR: Kat Rodriguez 1 ; Thompson, Sanaa 1 ; Carlie Myrtle 2
RBI: Jennings, Raegan 2 ; Roberts, Lexie 2 ; Kat Rodriguez 8 ; Thompson, Sanaa 3 ; Carlie Myrtle 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jennings, Raegan 4 ; Roberts, Lexie 3 ; Kat Rodriguez 2 ; Thompson, Sanaa 1 ; Carlie Myrtle 2 ; Wilson, Sahara 1 ; Blackwell, Rayna 1 ; Barbee, Shelby 1 ; Burns, Bryten 1 ; Horton, Sydney 2
SB: Jennings, Raegan 1 ; Burns, Bryten 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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