UNC Softball's season ends with loss to Notre Dame in ACC Tournament

The UNC softball program couldn't hold on to an early lead in the ACC Tournament opener, as their season comes to an end with a loss to Notre Dame.

North Carolina got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning, as a bases loaded walk followed by a Notre Dame fielding error put three runs on the board for the team in Carolina blue.

Unfortunately, the Fighting Irish fought back, as back-to-back solo home runs cut the Tar Heels lead to 3-2 heading into the fifth inning.

The Tar Heels would extend the lead back to two in the bottom half of the fifth inning, but the wheels fell off the bus from there, as Notre Dame put together a five-run sixth inning to take the lead for good.

It's unfortunate how the season came to end in Megan Smith Lyon's first year at the helm, as the Tar Heels lost four consecutive conferences losses to finish the 2024 season with a 30-20 record. The end of the season shouldn't take away from the success this group accomplished during the season, as the future appears to be very bright moving forward.

Now, the focus will turn towards the offseason, as we'll have to wait and see what Smith Lyon is able to put together in terms of next year's roster. There will be some holes to fill, but based on the players she brought in a season ago, expect Smith Lyon and the Tar Heels to be very active as they look to build the best possible roster to help improve heading into the 2025 season.