A go-ahead grand slam from Vance Honeycutt in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the difference for the Diamond Heels against Elon Tuesday night, as Carolina defeated the Phoenix 8-7 at Boshamer Stadium.
Prior to Honeycutt’s slam, UNC had seen a 3-0 lead evaporate in the fourth inning as Elon plated four runs to take the lead. But after Luke Stevenson reached on an error and Alberto Osuna and Alex Madera both singled, Honeycutt stepped to the plate and blasted a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall to give Carolina a 7-4 lead. It was Honeycutt’s 40th collegiate home run, making him only the second Tar Heel ever with 40 career homers and 50 career stolen bases.
Honeycutt was also key in adding insurance in the seventh inning, legging out an infield single, taking second base on a wild pitch and then scoring on a single by Casey Cook. That run became all the more important when the Phoenix tacked on two in the top of the eighth, cutting UNC’s lead to 8-7. But Dalton Pence slammed the door in the ninth, inducing a flyout and striking out two to give Carolina its fourth win of the season.
Honeycutt finished 2-4 with four runs batted in and three runs scored. Cook and Parks Harber each also collected two hits, meaning the 1-3 hitters in the Tar Heel lineup batted 6-10 against the Phoenix. The rest of the Carolina hitters combined for four hits. On the mound, Matthew Matthijs earned the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Pence collected his first save of the season.
The Diamond Heels will look to keep their record spotless when they host No. 11 East Carolina in the first of a three-game series on Friday at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. The second game of the series will be played in Fayetteville on Saturday, and the finale will be played on ECU’s campus in Greenville on Sunday.
Featured image via Aaron Fitt
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