Strong starts from pitchers Jake Knapp and Aidan Haugh helped the Diamond Heels win two out of three games at Boston College during the weekend. It’s the first ACC series win for UNC this season.

In the series opener Friday, Knapp pitched into the seventh inning while allowing only one run on two hits and striking out five Eagles. He left the game with a 3-1 lead, and relievers Matthew Matthijs and Walker McDuffie combined to record the final seven outs. Sam Angelo and Hunter Stokely each homered, while Jackson Van De Brake and Sawyer Black both recorded RBIs during a two-run rally in the seventh inning. The 5-1 victory snapped a two-game losing streak.

Carolina took an early lead in the second game of the series on the strength of a sacrifice fly from Gavin Gallaher in the third inning, but Boston College took the lead on a three-run home run in the fifth against UNC starter Jason DeCaro. Those would be the only three runs DeCaro allowed in six innings of work, but he still left with a loss after Carolina managed only one more run in the eighth. An Alex Madera single and stolen base had set UNC up with men on second and third with Van De Brake up to bat, but the second baseman struck out on three pitches to end the threat. The Diamond Heels went down in order in the top of the ninth to end the 3-2 loss.

UNC’s bats awoke in time for the series finale Sunday, as Carolina scored two runs in the first and five in the second to blow the game open early. Hunter Stokely, Tyson Bass and Gavin Gallaher each recorded RBI hits during the first two frames, with Bass doubling and singling to drive in three runs in his first two at-bats.

Stokely capped off a productive day at the plate with a solo home run in the sixth, piling on to a UNC lead which now stood at 9-0. A Kane Kepley sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 10-0.

UNC starter Aidan Haugh recorded a spotless seventh inning to end the game via run rule. Haugh was masterful in his abridged complete game, striking out 11 Eagles and allowing just one walk and one hit – both of which came in his final inning.

The series win improves UNC to 18-6 this season and 4-5 in ACC play. Up next for the Diamond Heels is their annual game against South Carolina in Charlotte, scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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