CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — It took nine innings, but the Illinois softball team didn't that mind one bit.
After a rough opening weekend in which the Illini dropped four straight in Florida, Tyra Perry's team was happy to be back on the winning side of the ledger.
In game one of Friday's opening day of the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Illinois got its wish as Alexis Carrillo delivered a game-tying home run to deep center field in the seventh inning, and the Illini eventually toppled Pittsburgh, 5-4, after nine frames.
In the late game, host North Carolina rode a four-run fifth inning to a 6-2 victory over the Illini, who are 2-5 on the season.