No. 16 Virginia Rallies To Clinch Series At North Carolina

Cavaliers score 11 runs in final two innings of game two to defeat Tar Heels

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The No. 16 Virginia softball team (22-2, 2-1 ACC) scored 11 runs over the final two frames of game two of a doubleheader at North Carolina (19-3, 3-3 ACC) to clinch the weekend series with the Tar Heels. Both games went to extra innings, with North Carolina rallying for an 11-9 victory in extra innings in game one, while Virginia rallied for a 19-14 victory in eight innings in game two.

Why it matters

This series between two top ACC softball programs showcased the resilience and offensive firepower of both teams, with the Cavaliers ultimately prevailing to take the series. The results will impact the ACC standings and rankings as the conference season progresses.

The details

In game one, Virginia jumped out to an early 7-3 lead, but North Carolina battled back to tie the game and eventually win 11-9 in extra innings. In game two, the Tar Heels built a 13-7 lead, but the Cavaliers chipped away and exploded for 11 runs over the final two innings to win 19-14.

  • The doubleheader took place on March 8, 2026.
  • Game one went to extra innings, with North Carolina winning 11-9.
  • Game two also went to extra innings, with Virginia winning 19-14.

The players

Macee Eaton

A Virginia softball player who hit two home runs in the series.

Emily Legette

A North Carolina softball player who hit three home runs in the series.

Joanna Hardin

The head coach of the Virginia softball team.

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What they’re saying

“I saw a ton of grit, resilience and fight. This team is never out of it. We pushed it into extra innings in game one, but came up short. We scored five in the seventh in game two to send it to extra innings. We talk about getting the tying run to the plate in the last inning when you're down. We've done that multiple times. I'm really proud of the effort and resilience I saw tonight. That's what championship teams are made of.”

— Joanna Hardin, Head Coach (virginianreview.com)

What’s next

Virginia returns to action at home on Tuesday (March 10) when the Cavaliers host Hampton in a 4 p.m. contest at Palmer Park.

The takeaway

This series showcased the offensive firepower and resilience of both the Virginia and North Carolina softball programs, with the Cavaliers ultimately prevailing to take the series. The results will have a significant impact on the ACC standings and rankings as the conference season continues.