After splitting the doubleheader yesterday, North Carolina and Syracuse Orange softball closed out their series on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C., with the pitching matchup consisting of Lilli Backes going against Lindsey Hendrix. It was a stellar performance for Backes, as she silenced the Syracuse Orange bats the whole game, only allowing two hits and giving up zero runs.
Hendrix had a perfect first inning, but the Tar Heels got to her in the second inning as Kiersten Licea was able to hit a ball over the wall for a solo home run to give UNC an early lead.
Hendrix was able to shut UNC down in the third, but the Tar Heels ended up getting back on the board in the fourth. Abby Settlemyre got a lead-off triple and then Lexi Godwin, Destiny Middleton, and Carlie Myrtle worked three-straight walks. Settlemyre scored on the Myrtle walk. Madison Knight would come on to replace Hendrix and gave up a sac fly RBI to Isabela Emerling.
UNC did not slow down in the fifth inning as Knight allowed a single and two walks with just one out in the inning. Skyler Brooks ended up reaching on an error after Peyton Schemmer misplayed a grounder at second, allowing Bri Stubbs to score. Knight was able to get out of the inning without allowing further damage. UNC at that point was leading 4-0.
Syracuse Orange softball lost its series finale at North Carolina.
UNC tacked on two more runs to make it 6-0 in the sixth inning after an RBI single from Stubbs and a sac fly from Settlemyre. The ‘Cuse did come up to hit for the seventh but due to time constraints, the game ended mid-at-bat when Kelly Breen was down 0-1 in the count. The only two hits off the Syracuse Orange bats were a single by Madelyn Lopez and a double by Knight.
Now at 4-12-1 in ACC play, the ‘Cuse (14-21-1 overall) is 11th in the conference and only 10 teams are eligible for the ACC Tournament. The Syracuse Orange came into this contest a game behind NC State in the conference standings, and the Wolfpack defeated No. 4 seed Clemson a couple of hours later.
The remaining ACC schedule for the ‘Cuse is three games against Virginia on April 28-30 and three against Boston College on May 5-7. NC State’s remaining ACC schedule is three games against UNC on April 21-23 and three games against Pitt on May 5-7.
Up next, the ‘Cuse will travel to Southern New York this Wednesday for a doubleheader against Binghamton, with Game 1 starting at 2:30 pm and Game 2 scheduled to start at 4:30 pm.