The Diamond Heels took the first two games of a three-game series against Miami at Boshamer Stadium during the weekend. It’s the second straight series win for Carolina.

In Friday night’s series opener, UNC rode strong start from pitcher Jake Knapp to victory. Knapp tossed seven shutout innings while striking out 10 Hurricanes and allowing only one extra-base hit. His brilliance was much-needed, as the UNC bats managed only three hits against the Miami pitching staff. Two of those hits came in the bottom of the fifth, as a one-out single from Alex Madera jump-started a two-run rally. Tyson Bass walked to move Madera to second, and Madera came around to score on a single from Sam Angelo. Bass advanced to third on the hit and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Jackson Van De Brake.

Those two runs would stand up for the rest of the evening, as Walker McDuffie pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings to seal the 2-0 win. Knapp earned the win to improve his record to 4-0 and drop his earned run average to 1.38.

On Saturday afternoon, the Carolina bats picked up starting pitcher Jason DeCaro after he allowed a solo home run in the top of the second inning. UNC took the lead for good in the fourth, using five singles and a fielder’s choice to plate four runs. It would be all the Diamond Heels would need, as DeCaro and Ryan Lynch combined to allow just one more Miami run over the final five innings to seal the 4-2 victory. DeCaro earned his fourth win, while Lynch earned the save by tossing the final 3.2 innings.

UNC took an early lead in Sunday’s series finale with a run in the first inning, but Miami tied the game thanks to two wild pitches from Matthew Matthijs in the sixth. The game remained tied at 1-1 into the ninth, when the Hurricanes loaded the bases with one out against McDuffie. A single and an error in the outfield then scored all three runners, giving Miami its first lead of the day.

Carolina threatened in the bottom of the inning by bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs, but Kane Kepley grounded out to end the game and give Miami a 4-2 win.

The Diamond Heels are now 21-7 overall and 6-6 in ACC play. UNC will be back in action when it hosts Gardner-Webb at Boshamer Stadium Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Joe Bray

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