For seven innings on Saturday, the fourth-ranked UNC baseball team was in danger of being on the wrong end of a no-hitter.
Luckily for head coach Mike Fox and company, freshman right-hander Gianluca Dalatri was able to toss a gem of his own for the Tar Heels (31-8, 16-4 ACC)–as the UNC bats woke up at just the right time in the team’s 3-1 series-clinching win over the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Tar Heel sophomore Brandon Riley disappointed the home crowd when he broke up Josh Falk’s no-hit bid in the beginning of the eighth inning.
Riley would later come around to score on a wild pitch, before junior centerfielder Brian Miller hit a two-run double later in the frame–a hit that would ultimately serve as the game-winner.
Dalatri, meanwhile, came within one out of throwing a complete game shutout for the Tar Heels.
The ACC leader in innings pitched threw at least eight innings for the fourth time in 10 starts, but was removed in favor of closer Josh Hiatt for the final out once Pitt (16-20, 7-13 ACC) broke through with an RBI single from Nick Banman.
Hiatt then promptly struck out PJ Demeo to earn his 12th save in 14 chances this season–tying him for fifth in school history for a single season.
The Tar Heels also clinched their first winning record in conference play since 2013, the day after clinching their spot in the ACC Tournament.
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UNC will look to complete the series sweep on Sunday, with first pitch set for noon.
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