For most baseball players, a home run, a double and four RBIs represents an amazing full-game performance.
UNC senior Zack Gahagan found a way to cram all that into a single inning Friday night at Boshamer Stadium, as the Tar Heels cruised to a 15-3 blowout victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Following a solo home run from Kyle Datres to lead off the home half of the third, Gahagan blasted one of his own–kicking off what turned into a nine-run inning.
Six different players recorded an RBI in the frame, with Gahagan also hitting a three-run, bases-clearing double in his second at-bat.
He’d later add a fifth RBI in the sixth inning when he drew a bases-loaded walk.
Pittsburgh (11-5, 1-3 ACC) actually opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly from David Yanni against Tar Heel starter Tyler Baum.
After that, however, it was all UNC.
Ben Casparius drove in two runs in the second inning to give the Tar Heels their first lead, with the nine-run explosing coming in the very next inning.
The Panthers tallied their next two runs on a two-run homer by Ron Washington Jr. in the fifth inning, but UNC answered by scoring four more in the sixth.
In addition to Gahagan’s monster performance, Michael Busch added two hits and three RBIs–while Cody Roberts chipped in a pair of RBIs as well.
It was the perfect way to kick off a conference series for the Tar Heels, especially after scoring one run combined in their two mid-week games against North Carolina A&T and Gardner-Webb.
Up Next:
UNC will look to continue hitting the ball well as it attempts to clinch the series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)
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