University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, April 28
Kennesaw, Ga.
6:30 p.m.
North Carolina
24-26, 12-9
5
at
3
Georgia Tech
24-25, 6-16
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3
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7
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North Carolina
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11
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Georgia Tech
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Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH
Softball Clinches 5-3 Series-Opening Victory Over Georgia Tech
April 28, 2023 | Softball
KENNESAW, Ga. – Led by another dominant performance in the circle from Lilli Backes, the Carolina softball team (24-26, 12-9 ACC) earned a 5-3 series-opening win over Georgia Tech on Friday night.
The Tar Heels tallied 11 hits in the game, led by Alex Brown who went 3-of-4 at the plate with a pair of base hits and her fourth home run of the season. Abby Settlemyre had a team-best three RBIs in the win, all off a three-run home run, her ninth long ball of the season.
Backes (15-13) limited the Yellow Jackets to just two earned runs and recorded eight strikeouts. The sophomore left-handed pitcher earned her eighth straight ACC victory in her 13th complete game of the season. She holds a 10-4 record in conference play.
It was a battle from start to finish from both squads. Georgia Tech took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scratching a run across on a pair of Tar Heel errors.
Settlemyre then hit her three-run shot in the top of the third to give Carolina a two-run lead, 3-1.
The Yellow Jackets then scored on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-2.
The two teams then traded solo home runs in the fifth, with Brown hitting a shot down the right field line in the top of the inning, before Georgia Tech responded with one over the center field wall. After five innings of play, the Tar Heels held a 4-3 lead.
Kiersten Licea, who had two hits on the night, earned her sole RBI in the top of the seventh, plating Brown to give Carolina a 5-3 cushion.
After allowing a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh, Backes then retired the next three Yellow Jackets in order, including a strikeout to end the game.
The Tar Heels will look to clinch their fourth ACC series victory in a row tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Mewborn Field. The game will be broadcasted on ACC Network.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
The Tar Heels tallied 11 hits in the game, led by Alex Brown who went 3-of-4 at the plate with a pair of base hits and her fourth home run of the season. Abby Settlemyre had a team-best three RBIs in the win, all off a three-run home run, her ninth long ball of the season.
Backes (15-13) limited the Yellow Jackets to just two earned runs and recorded eight strikeouts. The sophomore left-handed pitcher earned her eighth straight ACC victory in her 13th complete game of the season. She holds a 10-4 record in conference play.
It was a battle from start to finish from both squads. Georgia Tech took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scratching a run across on a pair of Tar Heel errors.
Settlemyre then hit her three-run shot in the top of the third to give Carolina a two-run lead, 3-1.
The Yellow Jackets then scored on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to make it 3-2.
The two teams then traded solo home runs in the fifth, with Brown hitting a shot down the right field line in the top of the inning, before Georgia Tech responded with one over the center field wall. After five innings of play, the Tar Heels held a 4-3 lead.
Kiersten Licea, who had two hits on the night, earned her sole RBI in the top of the seventh, plating Brown to give Carolina a 5-3 cushion.
After allowing a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh, Backes then retired the next three Yellow Jackets in order, including a strikeout to end the game.
The Tar Heels will look to clinch their fourth ACC series victory in a row tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Mewborn Field. The game will be broadcasted on ACC Network.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Backes, Lilli (15-13)
L: Chandler Dennis (13-9)
Batting:
2B: Jones, Kianna 1
HR: Brown, Alex 1 ; Settlemyre, Abby 1
RBI: Brown, Alex 1 ; Settlemyre, Abby 3 ; Licea, Kiersten 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, Alex 3 ; Stubbs, Bri 1 ; Settlemyre, Abby 1
CS: Fox, Caroline 1
Batting:
2B: Ella Edgmon 1
HR: Sara Beth Allen 1
RBI: Sara Beth Allen 1 ; Paige Vukadinovich 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Emma Kauf 1 ; Sara Beth Allen 1 ; Mallorie Black 1
SB: Emma Kauf 1 ; Mallorie Black 1 ; Paige Vukadinovich 1 ; Jin Sileo 1
CS: Ella Edgmon 1
HBP: Ella Edgmon 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
rf/2b
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballUT
/ SoftballOF/INF
/ Softball
INF
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