University of North Carolina Athletics
Sunday, February 8
Chapel Hill, N.C.
2:30 PM
North Carolina
3-0
11
vs
3
James Madison
2-1
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
James Madison
0
0
0
3
0
3
2
2
North Carolina
0
1
4
4
2
11
13
0
Photo by: DALTON WAINSCOTT
Softball Powers Its Way To 11-3 Victory Over JMU
February 8, 2026 | Softball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Carolina Softball moved to 3-0 on the young season with an 11-3 run-rule win over James Madison on Sunday afternoon.
Shelby Barbee continued her torrid start to the season, belting her second home run of the season and racking up four RBI and reaching base all three plate appearances.
MC Eaton made an immediate impact in her first Carolina start. She opened the scoring with an RBI that plated Bryten Burns.
The third inning was a big one for the Tar Heels, Sanaa Thompson scored on a wild pitch to kick things off. Michele Tarpey continued her great start to the season with an RBI double that plated Thompson. Barbee doubled home Tarpey next then Eaton brought home Barbee to make it 5-0 ball game.
JMU was able to get three runs back in the fourth inning but the Carolina bats responded immediately. Reece Outlaw doubled, Lexie Roberts moved her over, then Thompson drove her home. Barbee then blasted a three run homer to the opposite field to make it a 9-3 ball game.
Eaton proceeded to open the fifth with a laser home run to right field. The Tar Heels then loaded the bases and Emily LeGette ended the game with a walk-off sac-fly.
UNC moves to 3-0 for the first time since 2024.
Inside the Box Score:
Shelby Barbee continued her torrid start to the season, belting her second home run of the season and racking up four RBI and reaching base all three plate appearances.
MC Eaton made an immediate impact in her first Carolina start. She opened the scoring with an RBI that plated Bryten Burns.
The third inning was a big one for the Tar Heels, Sanaa Thompson scored on a wild pitch to kick things off. Michele Tarpey continued her great start to the season with an RBI double that plated Thompson. Barbee doubled home Tarpey next then Eaton brought home Barbee to make it 5-0 ball game.
JMU was able to get three runs back in the fourth inning but the Carolina bats responded immediately. Reece Outlaw doubled, Lexie Roberts moved her over, then Thompson drove her home. Barbee then blasted a three run homer to the opposite field to make it a 9-3 ball game.
Eaton proceeded to open the fifth with a laser home run to right field. The Tar Heels then loaded the bases and Emily LeGette ended the game with a walk-off sac-fly.
UNC moves to 3-0 for the first time since 2024.
Inside the Box Score:
- MC Eaton made her first Carolina start
- Eaton picked up her first Carolina RBI in the second inning
- Shelby Barbee's opposite field homer was her second of the season
- It was MC Eaton's first homer of the season
- Catie Boggs made her collegiate debut and got hit by a pitch
- Carly Maxton threw four, allowing just two hits
- Kendall Frost twirled her second consecutive scoreless frame
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Maxton, Carly (2-0)
L: List, Payton (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Tribul, Mia 1
RBI: Tribul, Mia 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Tribul, Mia 1 ; Arredondo, PK 1 ; List, Payton 1
Batting:
2B: Outlaw, Reece 1 ; Barbee, Shelby 1
HR: Barbee, Shelby 1 ; Eaton, MC 1
RBI: Thompson, Sanaa 1 ; Barbee, Shelby 4 ; Eaton, MC 3 ; Tarpey, Michele 1 ; LeGette, Emily 1
SF: LeGette, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Outlaw, Reece 1 ; Burns, Bryten 1 ; Roberts, Lexie 1 ; Thompson, Sanaa 1 ; Barbee, Shelby 2 ; Boggs, Catie 1 ; Eaton, MC 1 ; Tarpey, Michele 1 ; LeGette, Emily 2
SB: LeGette, Emily 1
HBP: Barbee, Shelby 1 ; Boggs, Catie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
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