Sunday, April 2
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North Carolina
14-24, 4-8
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25-11, 6-6
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Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Softball Defeats Virginia In Series Finale, 5-3
April 2, 2023 | Softball
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Carolina softball team (14-24, 4-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) earned a 5-3 victory in the series finale on Sunday over Virginia in Palmer Park. Despite the win, the Cavaliers (25-11, 6-6 ACC) took the 2-1 weekend series win.
Lilli Backes (7-12) threw her second straight complete game, allowing just six hits and three runs while tallying six strikeouts in the circle.
At the plate, Alex Brown went a career-best four-of-four with four singles, while Destiny Middleton was 2-for-2 with a bases-clearing double. The Tar Heels had 10 hits on the day, the most for the team since defeating Virginia Tech on March 11.
Brown got Carolina on the board first in the top of the first, reaching home on a double steal to end the inning, giving the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead.
After Virginia tied it up in the bottom of the first, the Hoos took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back RBI hits, going ahead 3-1.
The Tar Heels took the lead in the top of the fifth. After Brown walked, Bri Stubbs and Abby Settlemyre singled to load the bases. Kiersten Licea was then hit by a pitch to plate the first run, before Middleton's third triple of the season gave Carolina a 5-3 lead.
Backes then retired the next nine Virginia batters in the fifth, sixth and seventh to seal the victory.
Up next, Carolina travels to UNCG on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. matchup with the Spartans.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Lilli Backes (7-12) threw her second straight complete game, allowing just six hits and three runs while tallying six strikeouts in the circle.
At the plate, Alex Brown went a career-best four-of-four with four singles, while Destiny Middleton was 2-for-2 with a bases-clearing double. The Tar Heels had 10 hits on the day, the most for the team since defeating Virginia Tech on March 11.
Brown got Carolina on the board first in the top of the first, reaching home on a double steal to end the inning, giving the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead.
After Virginia tied it up in the bottom of the first, the Hoos took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back RBI hits, going ahead 3-1.
The Tar Heels took the lead in the top of the fifth. After Brown walked, Bri Stubbs and Abby Settlemyre singled to load the bases. Kiersten Licea was then hit by a pitch to plate the first run, before Middleton's third triple of the season gave Carolina a 5-3 lead.
Backes then retired the next nine Virginia batters in the fifth, sixth and seventh to seal the victory.
Up next, Carolina travels to UNCG on Tuesday for a 5 p.m. matchup with the Spartans.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Backes, Lilli (7-12)
L: Eden Bigham (9-4)
Batting:
3B: Middleton, Destiny 1
RBI: Middleton, Destiny 3
SH: Middleton, Destiny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, Alex 2 ; Stubbs, Bri 1 ; Settlemyre, Abby 1 ; Licea, Kiersten 1
CS: Settlemyre, Abby 1
HBP: Licea, Kiersten 2 ; Myrtle, Carlie 1
Batting:
2B: Gabby Baylog 2
RBI: Abby Weaver 1 ; Gabby Baylog 1 ; Kailyn Jones 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jade Hylton 1 ; Leah Boggs 1 ; Gabby Baylog 1
HBP: Leah Boggs 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
4
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballUT
/ Softball
OF/INF
/ Softball3B
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballCarolina Insider - Interview with Caleb Wilson (Full Segment) - September 22, 2025
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