Caleb Roberts’ RBI single in the top of the 10th inning on Tuesday night in Charlotte turned out to be the game-winning hit for the UNC baseball team, which defeated No. 11 South Carolina by a score of 3-2.

It was the first time the Tar Heels (15-12) have needed to go to extra innings this season.

Dallas Tessar scored the winning run after leading off the 10th inning with a pinch-hit bunt single, on a night where the UNC pitching staff allowed South Carolina (19-8) to record just three hits for the entire game.

Gage Gillian, Davis Palermo, Nik Pry and Caden O’Brien combined to throw 8.2 innings out of the bullpen for UNC, with O’Brien earning the victory after holding the Gamecocks scoreless over the final three frames.

Offensively, sophomore center fielder Justice Thompson led the Tar Heels with three hits in the game–including an RBI single in the first inning that gave UNC an early lead.

South Carolina answered with a run in the bottom half of the first inning and kept the game tied until the Tar Heels broke through in the top of the sixth inning with a pinch-hit RBI groundout by Hunter Stokely.

Once again, the Gamecocks answered in the home half of the sixth–this time with a solo home run by Josiah Sightler.

Neither team scored again until Roberts’ delivered in extra innings, handing UNC its first neutral-site win of the season.

Up Next:

UNC hosts rival Duke this weekend for a three-game ACC series beginning on Friday at 6 p.m.

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

Photo via Abe Loven (UNC Athletics)

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