Softball Splits First Day at Georgia Classic

Friday, February 25

Athens, Ga.

1 p.m.

North Carolina

8-4

Bryant

0-1

North Carolina

Bryant

Photo by: Lauren Staff

February 25, 2022 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ATHENS, Ga. - The Carolina softball team (8-5) split its first two games at the Georgia Classic on Friday, earning a 2-0 victory over Bryant to open the day before being edged out by No. 15 Georgia, 3-2.

Hannah George improved to 5-0 in the circle against Bryant, throwing her second complete-game shutout of the season. The senior tallied eight strikeouts, just one shy of her career high.

Against Georgia, freshman Lilli Backes (2-3) threw a masterful game, allowing just one earned run while striking out six in six innings of work.

UNC: 2, Bryant: 0
Carolina got on the board early against the Bulldogs. Bri Stubbs opened the game with a walk, followed by a Destiny Middleton sac bunt that advanced Stubbs to second. Sara Jubas then hit an RBI double, making it 1-0.

After scoreless first, second and third innings for Bryant, the Bulldogs' best opportunity came in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back walks followed by a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. George was able to prevent any damage, striking out the next batter followed by a groundout to get out of the inning.

Carolina plated its second run of the game in the top of the sixth, opening the inning with a Kianna Jones single followed by a Taylor Greene walk. Katie Perkins plated Jones, who was pinch ran for by Aneshia Jordan, with an RBI sacrifice fly.

Perkins was the only Carolina batter with two hits against the Bulldogs, going 2-of-2 at the plate.

Sophomore Alex Brown tallied her first collegiate hit in the victory.

UNC: 2, No. 15 Georgia: 3
After a scoreless first, which included a Lilli Backes strikeout, Carolina got on the board first in the top of the second. Greene got hit by a pitch to open the second, followed by a Skyler Brooks walk. After a double steal, there were Tar Heels on second and third base when Perkins hit an RBI sacrifice fly, scoring pinch runner Jordan.

Georgia took the lead back in the bottom of the second, scoring two unearned runs to go up 2-1.

Carolina tied it up in the fourth inning, with Brown hitting an RBI single.

It was a 2-2 game until the bottom of the sixth when the Bulldogs hit a leadoff solo homerun, which proved to be the winning run.

In the loss, Stubbs got on base three times, drawing two walks and recording a base hit.

The Tar Heels finish off their four-game stay in Athens on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. when they rematch with Bryant.

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