UNC freshman reliever Cooper Criswell struck out a career-high 13 hitters Saturday night out of the bullpen to help the Tar Heels defeat Miami 9-6 on the road–clinching the team’s first series victory in Coral Gables since 2008.
It was the seventh consecutive victory for the Tar Heels (21-10, 10-4 ACC), who have also won 14 of their last 17 games.
Miami (12-18, 6-8 ACC) jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the first inning with a three-run homer from Gabe Rivera off UNC starter Austin Bergner, but from there the teams traded runs back and forth until the Tar Heels came up big in the later innings.
As Criswell continued to strike out hitters in relief of Bergner, Brandon Martorano put UNC ahead 7-5 with an RBI triple in the top half of the sixth inning. Clemente Inclan and Ike Freeman followed up with RBIs of their own in the seventh inning to help round out the scoring for the Tar Heels.
The Hurricanes added a solo home run in the home half of the seventh, however it would not be enough to overcome the damage that had already been done.
Instead, Criswell’s career performance on the mound helped UNC hold off the hungry Hurricanes–keeping the team’s hot streak alive and well.
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The Tar Heels will go for the series sweep on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for noon.
Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)
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