The Diamond Heels fell to South Carolina for the third straight year on Tuesday night in Charlotte, as the Gamecocks came out on top in a 2-1 pitching duel.

UNC never led on the evening, as South Carolina jumped in front in the top of the third inning on an RBI groundout against Dalton Pence. That 1-0 score held until the bottom of the seventh, when Gavin Gallaher scored on a two-out double from Colby Wilkerson to tie the game.

But South Carolina answered right back in the next inning with an RBI double of its own, and UNC couldn’t answer. Alberto Osuna struck out looking on a full count with runners on first and second base in the bottom of the eighth, and the Tar Heels went down in order in the ninth.

Matthew Matthijs took the loss, his second of the season. The result spoiled a solid outing for the Tar Heel pitching staff, as Folger Boaz, Dalton Pence, Aidan Haugh, Matthijs and Matt Poston combined to strike out 16 Gamecocks and walk just three. South Carolina banged out 10 hits compared to UNC’s six.

The loss drops the Diamond Heels to 26-7. The team has lost three of its last four games, but will return to Boshamer Stadium this weekend to host Notre Dame in a three-game series. First pitch of Friday’s opener is scheduled for 6 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.