A dominant start from Max Carlson and a six-run fourth inning helped the Diamond Heels cruise past Georgia Tech Thursday in the first game of a three-game series in Atlanta.

Carlson went seven strong innings while allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out eight Yellow Jackets while walking two to earn his second win of the season.

The Carolina ace didn’t need much run support, but got it in spades in the fourth. After Georgia Tech got on the board with a run in the third, Vance Honeycutt — batting cleanup instead of in his usual leadoff spot — evened the score with an RBI single. Tomas Frick then launched a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run, the eighth of the season for the veteran UNC catcher. RBI knocks from Colby Wilkerson and Casey Cook scored the final two of the inning’s six runs. Cook was batting in Honeycutt’s former leadoff spot.

Johnny Castagnozzi provided even more insurance for Carlson in the fifth and Wilkerson added another in the seventh, but it hardly mattered. Carlson yielded to Kevin Eaise after tossing 95 pitches, and the Ivy League transfer handled the rest. Eaise pitched two no-hit innings to finish off the Yellow Jackets for the series-opening win.

Honeycutt also provided yet another UNC web gem in the outfield, leaping to rob a potential two-run Georgia Tech home run in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Carolina is now 21-9 overall and 7-4 in ACC play. Due to inclement weather in the Atlanta area, UNC and Georgia Tech will now play a doubleheader on Friday instead of playing the series out through Saturday. The first game of the twin billing will begin at 11 a.m., with the second game starting approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter


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