UNC Softball: Tar Heels fall short in ACC title game

The UNC Softball team struggled in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game Saturday afternoon in Florida

After winning back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday, the North Carolina Tar Heels conference tournament is officially over.

No. 5 Florida State got the best of the Tar Heels in the 2019 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship game on Saturday, winning the title 8-0 in 6 innings. UNC couldn’t muster anything against the Seminoles in Tallahassee, and it cost them an automatic bid into the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

The Seminoles got the scoring started early in the bottom of the first inning, plating a run and it was all they would need.

Florida State received great pitching from starter Makinzy Herzog  who threw two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit.  She was relieved by  Meghan King who gave up three hits and no runs in four innings pitched.

After jumping out to that 1-0 lead, Florida State’s bats stayed hot as they scored two in the bottom of the second inning and then added three in the bottom of the fourth and one run in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Tar Heels couldn’t get any momentum going and had their best chance in the third inning when they left two runners on base. After beating Louisville 9-3 and NC State 6-1 to reach the title game, UNC’s offense struggled on Saturday scoring just 0 runs.

The loss drops UNC to 35-18 overall on the season as they await their future in the 2019 NCAA Tournament. The selection show will take place at 9 p.m. on ESPN 2 as UNC will find out their destination for the postseason.

Brittany Pickett took the loss, falling to 21-12 on the year while Kiani Ramsey, Megan Dray, Berlynne Delamora and Abby Settlemyre all recorded a hit in the game.

For more on the UNC Softball program, please check back with Keeping It Heel.