History was made Sunday night at Boshamer Stadium, as the UNC baseball team set a new program standard for offensive production in its 19-11 win over the Houston Cougars that clinched the NCAA Tournament’s Chapel Hill Regional.
The victory clinched the Tar Heels a berth in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013, while the 19 runs were the most UNC has ever scored in a tournament game.
Sophomore first baseman Michael Busch–who led the Tar Heel explosion with three hits and four RBIs on Sunday–was named the Chapel Hill Regional’s Most Valuable Player.
UNC went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run from Kyle Datres, and the scoring continued to pile up from there. The fifth inning was the only full inning where neither team scored a run.
Datres ultimately finished with two hits, two RBIs and five runs scored. Senior Zack Gahagan added a two-run home run for the second straight game, while shortstop Ike Freeman drove in three runs on three hits.
The game was delayed for nearly an hour in the bottom of the eighth inning due to inclement weather with UNC leading 14-11, but the Tar Heels would go on to pile on five more runs after the stoppage to seal the win.
Up Next:
UNC, seeded No. 6 overall in the tournament, will now face off against No. 11 Stetson in the Super Regional round. Times and dates have yet to be determined.
Photo via UNC Athletics
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines