Friday night saw the longest game at Boshamer Stadium since 1982, as Brandon Riley’s walk-off single in the bottom of the 15th inning helped UNC edge out Wake Forest 3-2.

Riley was responsible for two of UNC’s three RBIs in the game, with one coming in the first inning and the other in the last.

Wake Forest (11-15) briefly took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth, but the Tar Heels (16-10) tied things up in the home half of the frame with an RBI single from sophomore Ashton McGee.

A pitchers’ duel ensued from that point on, as neither team scored a run for the next 11 innings until Riley hit a chopper over the head of the shortstop in the 15th–bringing Cody Roberts across home plate to seal the deal.

Tyler Baum started the game on the mound for the Tar Heels, finishing with a career-high seven innings pitched. The sophomore allowed just four hits, and neither of the two runs was earned.

Perhaps the most important performer for UNC, however, was reliever Josh Hiatt–who tossed a career-high 5.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen to go with eight strikeouts.

In total, the Tar Heels combined to strike out 18 Wake Forest hitters as they opened the series with a hard-fought victory over an in-state rival.

Up Next:

The second game of the series is set to begin Saturday at 4 p.m.

 

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)