University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
27-9, 7-7
NC State
21-16, 3-7
Softball Run Rules NC State, Clinches Series
April 3, 2026 | Softball
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The Tar Heels got going quickly loading the bases for Shelby Barbee in the first. She was hit by the pitch for the 16th time of the season, scoring Sanaa Thompson. MC Eaton then hit a sacrifice fly to go up 2-0. Michele Tarpey stepped up to the plate and sent a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence to make it a five run first inning.
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NC State was able to get a run back in the second inning but UNC got it back immediately. This time Thompson singled home Rayna Blackwell and then scored via a Barbee walk. The run was Thompson's 69th of the season which sets a new single season program record.
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Working counts was the key to success for the Tar Heels, forcing the Wolfpack to throw 108 pitches through three innings.
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After NC State scored two more in the third inning, Rayna Blackwell got both back sending a two-run bomb off the light tower in left field. The next batter, Lindsay Lumsden came in to pinch hit and she sent a home run to the opposite field to make it a 10-3 game.
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In the fifth, needing one run to make it a run rule situation, Blackwell came through once again, doubling home Sahara Wilson to go up 11-3.
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The fifth was locked down by Jil Livengood who threw two scoreless innings to close things out.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- First run rule victory over NC State since March 27, 2022
- Shelby bases loaded HBP set the single season program record with her 16th of the year
- Sanaa Thompson extended her on base streak to 20 games and set the program record for runs in a season
- Lexie Roberts extended her on base streak to 17 games
- Thompson set the runs record on Barbee's RBI walk to go up 7-1
- Fifth time this season with back-to-back home runs
- Fourth pinch hit home run, Lumsden's second
- Lumsden's home run marks the most home runs hit by a Coach Smith led team, topping her 2006 Western Carolina squad who hit 81 in 61 games
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Maxton, Carly (8-3)
L: Wyman, Rylee (5-7)
Batting:
2B: Blackwell, Rayna 1 ; Thompson, Sanaa 1
HR: Blackwell, Rayna 1 ; Lumsden, Lindsay 1 ; Tarpey, Michele 1
RBI: Barbee, Shelby 2 ; Eaton, MC 1 ; Blackwell, Rayna 3 ; Lumsden, Lindsay 1 ; Thompson, Sanaa 1 ; Tarpey, Michele 3
SF: Eaton, MC 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barbee, Shelby 1 ; Wilson, Sahara 2 ; Blackwell, Rayna 2 ; Lumsden, Lindsay 1 ; LeGette, Emily 1 ; Roberts, Lexie 1 ; Thompson, Sanaa 2 ; Tarpey, Michele 1
SB: LeGette, Emily 1 ; Roberts, Lexie 1
HBP: Barbee, Shelby 1
Batting:
2B: Church, Hannah 1
RBI: Whitaker, Ellington 1 ; Church, Hannah 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Simmers, Kendall 1 ; Livingston, Lily 1 ; Massey, Taryn 1
HBP: Whitaker, Ellington 1 ; Massey, Taryn 1
