Pittsburgh Panther fans can’t be happy with UNC right now. One day after the basketball team knocked Pitt out of the tournament, the baseball team pounded the Panthers 14-2.
What started out as a close game turned quickly to a blowout as UNC used an eight-run fifth inning to break away from visiting Pittsburgh.
The Tar Heels have now won eight straight games, again on the back of starter Zac Gallen.
Gallen appears to be nearly unhittable this season. He came into Friday’s game 1-0 with a 1.21 ERA and delivered another masterful performance.
He left after eight innings, giving up just four hits and one run with eight strikeouts.
But the Tar Heel offense gave Gallen all the help he could ask for.
First baseman Brian Miller had two hits in the fifth inning alone. He leadoff and got the action started with a single.
After being driven home by centerfielder Tyler Ramirez, Miller came up again later in the inning and put the final touches on the Tar Heels’ offensive explosion.
Miller doubled to right center and brought home the seventh and eighth runs of the inning.
Two innings later, Miller hit a two-run home run to end up a triple away from the cycle. It was Miller’s first career home run.
The Tar Heels will take on Pittsburgh in the second game of the three-game series Saturday. First pitch will be at 2:00 p.m.
J.B. Bukauskas is scheduled to start for the Tar Heels.
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