Thursday, February 9
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
11 a.m.
North Carolina
1-0
3
vs
2
Cal Baptist
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
North Carolina
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
3
8
0
Cal Baptist
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
0
Softball Opens 2023 Season With A Pair Of Wins
February 9, 2023 | Softball
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – The Carolina softball team opened the 2023 season with back-to-back wins on Thursday at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, defeating California Baptist 3-2 in game one and BYU 2-0 in game two of the doubleheader.
Abby Settlemyre and Kiersten Licea led the Tar Heels at the plate, each tallying three hits in six at-bats, while both of Destiny Middleton's hits went for extra bases with a double and triple.
In the circle, both Lilli Backes and Bailey McCachren earned wins. Backes threw 3.1 scoreless innings against the Lancers, while McCachren allowed just three hits and had five strikeouts in her complete game victory.
GAME ONE – Carolina: 3, California Baptist: 2
The Lacers got going early in the bottom of the first, opening the game with a single and a double in back-to-back at-bats. The Heels were able to get out of the jam by turning their first double play of the season.
California Baptist plated the first run of the game off a solo homerun to centerfield, before adding to their lead with an RBI double, holding a 2-0 advantage after two.
The Tar Heels were able to get on the board in the top of the first. Settlemyre plated Kianna Jones with an RBI single to left center, making it a 2-1 game.
MaKenna Raye Dark, who started the game in the circle, tied it up in the top of the fifth with a RBI double, scoring Bri Stubbs. Settlemyre hit Carolina's second double of the inning which scored Skyler Brooks, giving Carolina a 3-2 lead and the win.
GAME TWO – Carolina: 2, BYU: 0
After a scoreless first inning, Stubbs got the Tar Heels on the board with a sacrifice squeeze in the second, scoring pinch runner Caroline Fox.
Carolina added to the lead after Middleton doubled down the left field line in the top of the third, making it 2-0.
The Cougars best offensive opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth after getting two on with just one out, but the Heels were able to get out of the jam and keep BYU off the board.
McCachren, who threw all seven innings, tallied five strikeouts in her Tar Heel debut. It is the fourth complete game victory of her career and first since March 4, 2022, against Darmouth.
UP NEXT
The Tar Heels will face their first ranked opponent of the season on Friday with a 9:30 p.m. ET matchup with No. 25 Ole Miss.
Abby Settlemyre and Kiersten Licea led the Tar Heels at the plate, each tallying three hits in six at-bats, while both of Destiny Middleton's hits went for extra bases with a double and triple.
In the circle, both Lilli Backes and Bailey McCachren earned wins. Backes threw 3.1 scoreless innings against the Lancers, while McCachren allowed just three hits and had five strikeouts in her complete game victory.
GAME ONE – Carolina: 3, California Baptist: 2
The Lacers got going early in the bottom of the first, opening the game with a single and a double in back-to-back at-bats. The Heels were able to get out of the jam by turning their first double play of the season.
California Baptist plated the first run of the game off a solo homerun to centerfield, before adding to their lead with an RBI double, holding a 2-0 advantage after two.
The Tar Heels were able to get on the board in the top of the first. Settlemyre plated Kianna Jones with an RBI single to left center, making it a 2-1 game.
MaKenna Raye Dark, who started the game in the circle, tied it up in the top of the fifth with a RBI double, scoring Bri Stubbs. Settlemyre hit Carolina's second double of the inning which scored Skyler Brooks, giving Carolina a 3-2 lead and the win.
GAME TWO – Carolina: 2, BYU: 0
After a scoreless first inning, Stubbs got the Tar Heels on the board with a sacrifice squeeze in the second, scoring pinch runner Caroline Fox.
Carolina added to the lead after Middleton doubled down the left field line in the top of the third, making it 2-0.
The Cougars best offensive opportunity came in the bottom of the sixth after getting two on with just one out, but the Heels were able to get out of the jam and keep BYU off the board.
McCachren, who threw all seven innings, tallied five strikeouts in her Tar Heel debut. It is the fourth complete game victory of her career and first since March 4, 2022, against Darmouth.
UP NEXT
The Tar Heels will face their first ranked opponent of the season on Friday with a 9:30 p.m. ET matchup with No. 25 Ole Miss.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Backes, Lilli (1-0)
L: MORGAN MCCONNELL (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Settlemyre, Abby 1 ; Dark, Kenna Raye 1
3B: Middleton, Destiny 1
RBI: Settlemyre, Abby 2 ; Dark, Kenna Raye 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stubbs, Bri 1 ; Jones, Kianna 1 ; Brooks, Skyler 1
CS: Brown, Alex 1 ; Fox, Caroline 1
Batting:
2B: PRISCILLA ESTRADA 1 ; KARMYNA BECERRA 1
HR: AMANDA BRICKER 1
RBI: PRISCILLA ESTRADA 1 ; AMANDA BRICKER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: AMANDA BRICKER 1 ; RILEY MCDANIEL 1
HBP: MACKENZIE SAN PEDRO 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
2
dh/lf
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
MIF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
3B/SS
/ Softball
MIF
/ Softball
OF
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