A late offensive surge, combined with another fantastic start from JB Bukauskas, delivered the 11th ranked UNC baseball squad a much needed 3-1 victory over the Pitt Panthers late Saturday afternoon at Pittsburgh’s Charles Cost Field. The Tar Heels rise back above .500 in conference play with the win, going to 12-6 overall and 3-2 in league play, while the Panthers drop to 7-9 overall and 2-3 in conference.
Since yesterday’s series opener between these two ACC foes was a time for the bats to shine, it seemed only right that the pitchers would get their opportunity in this one.
UNC head coach Mike Fox sent his freshman sensation, Bukauskas (3-1), to take the hill against a dangerous Panther line-up that exploded for 12 runs in Game 1 off of the Tar Heel pitching staff, including eight in the first four innings on starter Zac Gallen.
With yesterday’s sub-par performance still hovering on Carolina’s mind, the young Bukauskas calmed everything down by displaying the kind of composure that Coach Fox has raved about all season long.
Last weekend at home against Duke, Bukauskas had a career day, going six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on his way to victory, maintaining complete control throughout.
For anyone expecting more of the same, they were rewarded graciously, as the six-foot kid out of Ashburn, Virginia gave his team six more terrific innings, holding the Panthers to one run and just four hits, while also striking out six batters as well.
Skye Bolt’s two late RBI helped JB Bukauskas earn the victory. (UNC Athletics)
Pittsburgh actually took the first lead of the game with a second inning run on right-fielder Frank Maldonado’s single, which plated Alex Kowalczyk, who had reached third base prior to that due to a wild pitch.
However, a passed ball in the top of the third allowed the Tar Heels’ second baseman Elijah Sutherland to come home and tie the affair. At one point it appeared the unearned run would be the only blemish on Pitt’s own wonderful pitching outing.
Bukauskas’ counterpart, junior Aaron Sandefur (1-2), had his best stuff as well, limiting the Tar Heels to just one hit through the first five innings, but he found trouble once he reached the sixth.
Korey Dunbar, Landon Lassiter, and Zack Gahagan each singled for Carolina to load the bases with one out, forcing the Panthers to turn to their bullpen to try and escape the jam. Damage was limited to just a single run, but Skye Bolt’s sacrifice fly to right-field sent Dunbar across the plate and handed UNC their first lead of the day.
Sandefur was able to give his team 5.1 innings of four-hit ball, but unfortunately for him three of those hits were strung together in the same frame, which often means trouble, and in this case it did: earning him the loss.
Landon Lassiter shares a word with hitting coach Scott Jackson. (UNC Athletics)
And for the second straight day, Bolt smashed a home run, this one coming of Panthers’ reliever Hobie Harris, and giving him his third of the season. The solo shot came in the top of the ninth inning, and drained any fight Pittsburgh had left.
The bullpen issues that have haunted the Tar Heels so far this season failed to make an appearance on Saturday.
Spencer Trayner pitched a scoreless seventh inning, and Coach Fox’s favorite workhorse, senior Trevor Kelley, worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning, before shutting Pitt down in the bottom of the ninth to earn the save.
Up Next:
The rubber match in the series is set to begin at noon on Sunday, with the earlier start time made to accommodate the Tar Heels’ travel schedule as classes resume on Monday. Starting pitchers are still to be announced.
Game Notes:
- Skye Bolt’s third home-run ties him for the UNC lead with right-fielder Tyler Ramirez.
- The consecutive relief appearance streak is up to seven games in a row for Carolina’s Trevor Kelley.
- Pittsburgh managed just six hits Saturday, after scoring 12 runs on Friday.
