University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Licea, Backes Earn ACC Softball Weekly Honors
April 25, 2023 | Softball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After helping lead Carolina to a 4-0 week and a series sweep at NC State, sophomore Lilli Backes has been named the Co-ACC Pitcher of the Week and fifth-year Kiersten Licea earned Co-ACC Player of the Week honors.
These are the first two weekly honors this season for Carolina and first career honors for both Licea and Backes.
Licea slugged a team-best 1.636 on a week where she hit four home runs. She tallied six RBIs, plated four runs and went 6-of-11 at the plate.
In game two of the three-game series at NC State, the San Antonio, Texas, native hit back-to-back home runs before hitting her third of the day in game three. Of her four hits in the Sunday double header with the Wolfpack, three were home runs. She hit a team-best .625 against NC State.
In the circle, Backes earned back-to-back-to-back wins last week, including one over Campbell and back-to-back wins over NC State, before notching her first career save. In Carolina's four games, Peachtree City, Ga., native pitched 20 innings, tallying 28 strikeouts, including 20 punch outs against the Wolfpack.
In the series opener at NC State, the left-handed pitcher recorded a career-best 10 strikeouts, including seven strikeouts in a row, then tallied another nine strikeouts in game two. In 20 innings pitched, she allowed just five earned runs.
Up next, the Tar Heels host Charlotte on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Anderson Stadium.
These are the first two weekly honors this season for Carolina and first career honors for both Licea and Backes.
Licea slugged a team-best 1.636 on a week where she hit four home runs. She tallied six RBIs, plated four runs and went 6-of-11 at the plate.
In game two of the three-game series at NC State, the San Antonio, Texas, native hit back-to-back home runs before hitting her third of the day in game three. Of her four hits in the Sunday double header with the Wolfpack, three were home runs. She hit a team-best .625 against NC State.
In the circle, Backes earned back-to-back-to-back wins last week, including one over Campbell and back-to-back wins over NC State, before notching her first career save. In Carolina's four games, Peachtree City, Ga., native pitched 20 innings, tallying 28 strikeouts, including 20 punch outs against the Wolfpack.
In the series opener at NC State, the left-handed pitcher recorded a career-best 10 strikeouts, including seven strikeouts in a row, then tallied another nine strikeouts in game two. In 20 innings pitched, she allowed just five earned runs.
Up next, the Tar Heels host Charlotte on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Anderson Stadium.
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