Backes Throws Complete Game Shutout To Defeat Minnesota, 1-0

Friday, February 17

Chapel Hill

5:30 p.m.

North Carolina

4-2

Minnesota

4-2

Minnesota

North Carolina

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

February 17, 2023 | Softball

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Behind a Lilli Backes pitching gem, the Carolina softball team earned a 1-0 victory over Minnesota on Friday night in the first day of the ACC/B1G 10 Challenge. Backes threw her first career complete game shutout, limiting a Gopher team that averaged over eight runs a game coming in to just five hits, matching her career-best of seven strikeouts.

With the victory, the Tar Heels improve to 4-2 on the season and are 2-0 at Anderson Stadium, while Minnesota falls to 4-2.

The matchup was a pitchers' duel, with both pitchers combining for 13 strikeouts. Despite the performance in the circle from Backes, Minnesota was able to get on base, drawing three walks, a pair of hit by pitches with five hits. However, the Tar Heels were able to strand 11 Gophers.

Carolina plated the sole run of the game in the bottom of the second. Annie Kate Dalton got things going with a base hit and Bri Stubbs drove her home with an RBI double, her first double of the season, to take a 1-0 lead.

Destiny Middleton singled in the bottom of the third, continuing her hot streak to start the season. She has tallied a hit in all six games in 2023, with a team-best nine hits.

Up next, the Tar Heels will rematch against Minnesota tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., before facing No. 25 Maryland at 5:00 p.m. during the second day of the ACC/B1G 10 Challenge.