The third-ranked UNC baseball team used an early offensive outburst on Saturday to ensure it would end its regular season in the only way that would make sense for this year’s fantastic Tar Heel team–with a win.
Scoring at least once in each of the first five innings at Boshamer Stadium, UNC opened up a 7-1 lead over the rival Duke Blue Devils before holding on down the stretch for a 9-7 victory.
Junior centerfielder Brian Miller went 4-for-5 with an RBI at the plate for the Tar Heels, while Brandon Riley and Ashton McGee led the way with two RBIs apiece.
UNC (43-11, 23-7 ACC) also received a solo home run from Zack Gahagan, as it clinched its 10th consecutive ACC series win–a streak that dates throughout the entirety of this season.
The 23 conference wins amassed by the Tar Heels also sets a new single-season school record.
Duke was led by a home run and two RBIs from third baseman Jack Labosky, who tallied both of his run-scoring hits against UNC freshman right-hander Gianluca Dalatri.
Labosky’s double in the top of the sixth helped kick-start a three-run frame for the Blue Devils, who ultimately scored six runs over the final four innings.
UNC was forced to go to the bullpen after Dalatri failed to record an out during Duke’s sixth-inning surge.
The combination of relievers Brett Daniels, Josh Hiatt, Rodney Hutchison and Austin Bergner proved to be just enough to slam the door shut, however, as the Blue Devils couldn’t quite muster enough steam to overcome the Tar Heels’ early explosion.
With the win, UNC–the ACC Coastal Division Champions–will enter this week’s conference tournament oozing with momentum.
Up Next:
The schedule for the ACC Tournament in Louisville will be released on Sunday morning.
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