The Diamond Heels banged out 13 hits and nine runs at Virginia Tech Friday night, and it was enough to beat the Hokies 9-6 in the first game of a three-game series.

UNC never trailed after going ahead 1-0 on a Luke Stevenson sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning. Virginia Tech tied the game in the third, but Stevenson earned his second RBI of the day in powerful fashion the next inning, blasting a solo shot to left field. A Carter French single in the fifth and a two-run homer from Hunter Stokely in the sixth extended the UNC lead to 5-1.

After the Hokies drew within one with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, UNC once again answered to keep the hosts at arm’s length. Jackson Van De Brake and reigning ACC Player of the Week Gavin Gallaher each collected RBIs in the seventh, and Gallaher provided more insurance in the ninth with a bases-loaded walk, one of a pair of RBI walks for the Diamond Heels in the inning.

It was more than enough to support UNC’s pitching duo of Jake Knapp and Walker McDuffie. Knapp struck out seven Hokies across 5.1 innings, improving to 8-0 on the season while keeping his earned run average at a miniscule 1.91. McDuffie secured the final 11 outs (six via the strikeout) to earn a marathon save.

The Diamond Heels have now won seven games in a row and 12 of their last 14. UNC is now 30-8 overall and 12-7 in ACC play and will be back in action in the second game of the series Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Joe Bray

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