University of North Carolina Athletics

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Softball Falls To No. 3 Oklahoma State
February 12, 2023 | Softball
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – The Carolina softball team fell to No. 3 Oklahoma State 3-2 on Saturday night in the team's final game abroad at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
With the loss, the Tar Heels fall to 2-2 on the season while the Cowgirls improve to 2-0.
Skyler Brooks and Destiny Middleton each recorded a team-best two hits in the game, with Middleton and Alex Brown both driving in a run.
Lilli Backes (1-1) threw the fourth complete game of her career in the circle, striking out five Cowgirls. She finished with a stat line of three earned runs, eight hits and a walk.
OSU quickly took the lead to open the game in the top of the first inning, hitting a two-run home run over the center field fence to go ahead 2-0.
Backes was able to hold the Cowgirls scoreless in the next three innings, before OSU tacked on another run to make it 3-0 in the top of the fifth.
With just three outs left to work with, Brooks and Bri Stubbs opened the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back hits, before Brown drove in Brooks with an RBI single to right field.
Down 3-1 with two outs, Middleton made it a one-run game with an RBI single to second base, scoring Stubbs.
The Cowgirls were able to escape by stranding two Tar Heels on the corners with a strikeout.
Carolina now heads back to Chapel Hill for its home opener on Wednesday at 5 p.m. vs. Elon at Anderson Softball Stadium.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
With the loss, the Tar Heels fall to 2-2 on the season while the Cowgirls improve to 2-0.
Skyler Brooks and Destiny Middleton each recorded a team-best two hits in the game, with Middleton and Alex Brown both driving in a run.
Lilli Backes (1-1) threw the fourth complete game of her career in the circle, striking out five Cowgirls. She finished with a stat line of three earned runs, eight hits and a walk.
OSU quickly took the lead to open the game in the top of the first inning, hitting a two-run home run over the center field fence to go ahead 2-0.
Backes was able to hold the Cowgirls scoreless in the next three innings, before OSU tacked on another run to make it 3-0 in the top of the fifth.
With just three outs left to work with, Brooks and Bri Stubbs opened the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back hits, before Brown drove in Brooks with an RBI single to right field.
Down 3-1 with two outs, Middleton made it a one-run game with an RBI single to second base, scoring Stubbs.
The Cowgirls were able to escape by stranding two Tar Heels on the corners with a strikeout.
Carolina now heads back to Chapel Hill for its home opener on Wednesday at 5 p.m. vs. Elon at Anderson Softball Stadium.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kilfoyl, Lexi (1-0)
L: Backes, Lilli (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Carwile, Katelynn 1
HR: Kilfoyl, Lexi 1
RBI: Kilfoyl, Lexi 3
SH: Becker, Rachel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Naomi, Kiley 1 ; Edwards, Tallen 1 ; Kilfoyl, Lexi 1
CS: Edwards, Tallen 1

Batting:
RBI: Middleton, Destiny 1 ; Brown, Alex 1
SH: Stubbs, Bri 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brooks, Skyler 1 ; Stubbs, Bri 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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