The Diamond Heels’ bats went quiet on Sunday against Virginia Tech, as Carolina fell 4-3 in the series finale.

Carolina scored in each of the first two innings, but did not record a hit again until the bottom of the seventh and did not score again until the bottom of the eighth. In the meantime, the Hokies took a 3-2 lead on a two-run home run in the top of the fourth against UNC starter Aidan Haugh, then padded that lead with a run in the fifth.

Virginia Tech’s Brady Kirtner pitched 4.1 innings of relief after the Hokie starter was removed in the bottom of the first due to an injury. Kirtner struck out five Tar Heels and lasted into the eighth. On the other side, Haugh lasted just four innings for Carolina and was charged with his first loss of the season. Connor Bovair, Kyle Percival, Matthew Matthijs, Matt Poston and Dalton Pence all appeared in relief, with Bovair allowing the fourth Virginia Tech run.

Carolina brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the eighth and ninth, but couldn’t push that run across. The Tar Heels’ three runs scored are its fewest since the 2-1 loss to South Carolina on April 9.

UNC is now 33-11 on the season and 17-7 in ACC play, three games ahead of second-place Duke in the Coastal Division. The Diamond Heels will be back in action on Tuesday when it hosts Charlotte at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter


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