The Diamond Heels rallied from an early 2-0 deficit against visiting Gardner-Webb Tuesday night at Boshamer Stadium, scoring the tying run in the fifth and the go-ahead run in the sixth in a 5-2 win.
The Bulldogs scored both of their runs in the third against Carolina starter Cameron Padgett, but the UNC bullpen stifled the visitors’ bats after that. Matthew Matthijs, Connor Bovair and Dalton Pence combined for 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, one walk and striking out eight between them.
Carolina had troubles of its own against the Gardner-Webb arms, but finally got on the board in the fifth with a Gavin Gallaher RBI double. Vance Honeycutt followed that up with an RBI single to drive in Gallaher and tie the game. The future first-round draft pick has improved his average to .313 on the season, and his 110 total bases are the most on the team.
An Alex Madera sacrifice fly in the sixth gave Carolina the lead, and the Tar Heels added insurance in the seventh off a wild pickoff throw and an RBI single. The Bulldogs brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Pence forced a groundout to end the game.
The win improves Carolina to 31-10 on the season and 24-1 at home. The Diamond Heels will continue their 10-game homestand during the weekend when they host Virginia Tech for a critical three-game series. First pitch in Friday’s opening game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter
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