Softball Falls Short To No. 18 Kentucky, 12-10

Thursday, February 15

Clearwater, Fla.

11 A.M.

North Carolina

4-1

Kentucky

5-1

Kentucky

NORTH CAROLINA

February 15, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The bats were scorching in North Carolina softball's first game at the Schreiner Children's Clearwater Classic, combining with No. 18 Kentucky for 35 hits and 22 runs. The Tar Heels (4-1) fought until the last at-bat, but fell to the Wildcats (4-1), 12-10 in their first loss of the season.

Redshirt sophomore catcher Isabela Emerling shined at the plate, hitting a pair of home runs, combining for a game-best 5 RBIs. Junior outfielder Alex Coleman and senior infielder Destiny Middleton each went 4-of-4, Coleman's third game of the season with four hits and her second four-hit outing in a row.

The Tar Heels got into a hole early, with Kentucky plating six runs on six hits and a fielding error in the top of the first. Carolina fought back, plating five runs on four hits, making it a one-run game.

Carolina took the lead in the bottom of the third, 9-6 and held onto that lead until Kentucky went ahead 10-9 in the top of the sixth.

The Wildcats added two more runs in the seventh, before the Tar Heels got their last opportunity in the home side of the inning. Despite a two-out RBI single from Sanaa Thompson to make it 12-10, Carolina left a pair of baserunners on base to end the game.

The Tar Heels used five pitchers, but freshman Janelle Wilson was charged with the loss, giving up two earned runs and four hits in .2 of an inning.

NOTABLES:

Isabela Emerling is the first Tar Heel to hit two home runs in a game since Abby Settlemyre vs. No. 15 Duke on March 20, 2023
The Tar Heels' 17 hits were a season-best and the most since tallying 18 vs. Wisconsin on Feb. 17, 2018
Destiny Middleton's four hits were a career-best for the fifth-year graduate student
Sanaa Thompson tallied her first career triple in the bottom of the fourth
Five games into the season, Alex Coleman has tallied a team-best 14 hits

Up next, the Tar Heels play UCF on Friday at 2 p.m.

Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.

Kristen Brown, Kat Rodriguez Named To Sports Illustrated All-Quarter-Century Team

Friday, August 08

Twelve From Softball Earn All-ACC Academic Honors

Thursday, July 10

Lilly Parrish Wins Florida Gulf Coast League MVP

Wednesday, July 09

Kiannah Pierce: I'm Not Done Yet

Thursday, June 05

Next Event

UCF

W, 2-1

Feb 16 (Fri)

2 p.m.

Box Score Recap Game Notes (PDF)Box Score (PDF)Watch Live stats Tickets History

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Stephanie Schoonover (4-0)

L: Wilson, Janelle (0-1)

Kentucky

Batting:

2B: Grace Lorsung 1 ; Karissa Hamilton 2

3B: Rylea Smith 1

HR: Taylor Ebbs 1

RBI: Rylea Smith 1 ; Ally Hutchins 1 ; Grace Lorsung 1 ; Karissa Hamilton 2 ; Taylor Ebbs 3 ; Margaret Tobias 2 ; Peyton Plotts 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Vanessa Nesby 1 ; Rylea Smith 2 ; Ally Hutchins 1 ; Grace Lorsung 2 ; Karissa Hamilton 1 ; Hallie Mitchell 1 ; Lauryn Borzilleri 1 ; Delani Sullivan 1 ; Jenna Blanton 1 ; Taylor Ebbs 1

SB: Jenna Blanton 1

CS: Erin Coffel 1

HBP: Erin Coffel 1 ; Lauryn Borzilleri 1

NORTH CAROLINA

Batting:

2B: Coleman, Alex 1

3B: Thompson, Sanaa 1

HR: Emerling, Isabela 2

RBI: Coleman, Alex 1 ; Brooks, Skyler 1 ; Settlemyre, Abby 2 ; Thompson, Sanaa 1 ; Emerling, Isabela 5

SH: Coleman, Alex 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Coleman, Alex 1 ; Brooks, Skyler 2 ; Owen, Autumn 1 ; Settlemyre, Abby 1 ; Myrtle, Carlie 1 ; Emerling, Isabela 2 ; Middleton, Destiny 1 ; Snead, Carsyn 1