The Diamond Heels earned their first road win of the 2024 season with a 7-3 victory at No. 22 Campbell on Tuesday night. Carolina scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to earn the win.

Carolina fell behind early after the Camels hit a home run in the bottom of the first, but moved in front with a three-run rally in the fifth. Vance Honeycutt tied the game with a two-out RBI single to score Jackson Van De Brake, and Casey Cook brought Honeycutt and Alex Madera home with a double in the next at-bat. Cook is batting a team-high .431 through 13 games.

Campbell then tied the game with runs in the fifth and seventh, setting the stage for Carolina’s game-winning salvo in the top of the ninth. The Diamond Heels loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Colby Wilkerson and consecutive bunt singles by Madera and Honeycutt. A Campbell pitching change couldn’t stop the momentum, as Cook once again came through with a go-ahead RBI single to score Wilkerson. Anthony Donofrio followed that up with a two-RBI ground rule double, and Alberto Osuna added an RBI single for good measure.

Matt Poston sat the Camels down in order in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win. He was one of five Carolina relievers to see action after starter Connor Bovair lasted just 1.2 innings. Dalton Pence, Cameron Padgett, Kyle Percival, Matthew Matthijs and Poston combined for the final 7.1 innings, allowing just three hits, two runs and striking out 11 Camels.

UNC is now 11-2 overall and has won six games in a row. Carolina will return home this weekend to open ACC play with a three-game series against Pittsburgh at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch in Friday’s opener is scheduled for 4 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter


Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.