Harris Throws No-Hitter, Dark Throws One-Hitter, UNC Sweeps Doubleheader

Sunday, February 23

Chapel Hill, N.C.

1:30 PM

North Carolina

11-3

Wagner

0-3

Wagner

North Carolina

Harris Throws No-Hitter, Dark Throws One-Hitter, UNC Sweeps Doubleheader

February 23, 2025 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Alex Funderburke

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – It was a special day at Anderson Stadium for Carolina softball. Saying the pitching was dominant would be an understatement. In game one against Wagner, Nikki Harris threw the 57th no-hitter in program history. How did Kenna Raye Dark follow that up? Her fifth complete game shutout of the season in a one-hitter.

Harris faced the minimum in the five inning no hitter after the only runner who reached was gunned down trying to steal by Rayna Blackwell to end the first inning. In the bottom half, Kiannah Pierce came up with the bases loaded and cleared the bases with an RBI double to go up 3-0. Blackwell ripped an RBI double to push Pierce across, making it 4-0.

In the third, Blackwell singled home another run then Shelby Barbee reached on a fielders choice that ended up scoring two runs on a throwing error by the pitcher, making it a 7-0 game.

Carlie Myrtle worked a bases loaded walk in the fourth inning to make it 8-0. After that Pierce cleared the bases yet again to take a commanding 11-0 lead. Her six RBI doubled her season total for the year and set a new single game career-high.

Needing just three more outs to complete the no-hitter, Harris got a first pitch popup, then a first pitch groundout, then ended it in style with her fourth strikeout of the day to cap off her first career no-hitter.

In game two, Dark opened the game by taking a no-hitter 6.1 innings before she gave up her one and only hit.

She threw her second complete game shutout of the weekend with a nine-strikeout performance where she looked in complete control the entire time.

In the third inning, Carolina slapped the ball around and after RBI singles from Grace Jackson and Alex Coleman and an RBI groundout from Kat Rodriguez gave the Tar Heels a 3-0 lead.

Carlie Myrtle added a fourth with an RBI groundout in the sixth.

Dark shut things down in the seventh to cap off an utterly dominant weekend from her and Harris.

The two pitchers threw 19 innings for three complete games with a 0.00 ERA allowing just four hits. Kenna Raye Dark now has an ERA of 2.29 across 49 innings pitched with Nikki Harris just behind her with a 2.56 in 27.1 innings pitched.

Carolina pitching has shown out at home this season, in eight games there has been a perfect game, no-hitter, and five complete game shutouts. Tar Heel pitchers have thrown to the tune of a 0.58 ERA at Anderson Stadium allowing just four earned runs in 48 innings. Opponents are hitting just .156 with 49 strikeouts.

UNC is back in action on Wednesday when it welcomes Elon to Chapel Hill for a midweek showdown. First pitch is slated for 6 PM.