After struggling to find offense in its season-opening loss Friday night, the sixth-ranked UNC baseball team responded Saturday with a loud bang–exploding for six runs in the first inning on the way to a 12-5 win over South Florida.
The win evens the series between the two teams, and gives the Tar Heels their first victory of the 2018 season.
Sophomore starting pitcher Tyler Baum notched a career-high 10 strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work for UNC, which went 8-for-16 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
A trio of Tar Heels–Michael Busch, Brandon Martorano and Zack Gahagan–tallied three RBIs in the game, with Martorano’s three-run homer in the first inning providing all the breathing room the pitching staff would need the rest of the way.
South Florida was largely held in check offensively, until scoring three of its five runs in the final two innings with the outcome no longer in doubt.
Up Next:
UNC will now look to take the series victory with a win on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
Photo via UNC Athletics
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