North Carolina
No. 16 Florida State Softball defeats North Carolina via second straight run rule
Florida State softball returned home to Tallahassee, for their final ACC regular series. For the first game of the series against the North Carolina Tar Heels, Ashtyn Danley got the ball to start. Danley began with a lead off walk, and a one out walk put two runners on. The freshman faced a dangerous part of the lineup, walking the bases loaded and less than two outs.
An error from the Seminoles infield pushed across the first run, as well as keeping the bases loaded. FSU traded an out for a run, and a groundout finally ended the visiting half of the 1st, with a 2-0 UNC lead.
Facing Kenna Raye Dark for UNC, Kaley Mudge led off with a single. After the fly out, Kalei Harding reached safely on a soft hit single. With Isa Torres at bat, the freshman shortstop put the ball in play, but UNC couldn’t field it properly, allowing one run to cross home.
Torres stood on third with two outs. Another infield single not in time allowed Devyn Flaherty to reach safely, and Torres to come home to tie the game.
Flaherty was able to scoot over to second base on a passed ball. With two outs, Michaela Edenfield made her return to the FSU lineup. Reaching down on a pitch, Edenfield drove in another run to make it 3-2.
Up a run with two outs, Jahni Kerr extended the lead with a 2-run shot to left field. The two runs ended Dark’s day, bringing in Nikki Harris. Harris was able to end the 5 run inning on a fly out.
Now working with a lead, Danley came back out for the 2nd inning. Leading off, UNC started with a solo shot to get a run back. A hit by pitch added a runner with no outs against Danley. A pair of ground outs and a strike out kept the inning at one run.
In the bottom of the inning, Amaya Ross singled and stole a base against Harris. A fly out advanced Ross to third base, and a single from Jaysoni Beachum brought in the 6th run of the game.
Harris and Danley kept it 6-3 through 3.5 innings, before FSU continued in the bottom of the 4th. Katie Dack led off with a walk, and a single from Ross and Mudge loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly by Beachum, and ground out by Harding added two more runs for FSU. With two outs, Torres homered for her second straight game, busting the door open.
Now in run-rule territory, with a 10-3 score, Emma Wilson, after coming on in relief, made quick work of the Tar Heels in the top of the 5th. A single from Ross and Mudge in the bottom frame set the table for Beachum, who sent everyone home on a walk off 3-run homerun.
FSU took the opening game by a 13-3 score, bringing their season total to 38-10 overall.
Up next
Saturday, April 27th, 4 pm, ESPNU
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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