The fifth-ranked UNC baseball team extended its spectacular winning streak to 11 games on Saturday afternoon, taking out the NC State Wolfpack by a score of 7-1 at Boshamer Stadium.
Freshman Gianluca Dalatri picked up the victory on the mound for UNC (29-6, 14-3 ACC), after tossing six innings and surrendering just a single run on five hits.
NC State’s Brock Deatherage provided the visiting team with its only offense when he slapped an RBI single off Dalatri in the top of the second inning–a hit that gave the Wolfpack an early lead much like the one they had during Friday’s series opener.
Also like Friday, however, NC State couldn’t hold onto its lead for very long.
A sacrifice fly from Brandon Martorano in the home half of the second helped the Tar Heels tie the game back up, but they weren’t able to break away until a three-run sixth frame.
Sophomore Brandon Riley–one of three Tar Heels to record multiple hits in the game–kickstarted the decisive inning with a run-scoring triple against veteran Wolfpack starter Brian Brown.
The Wolfpack (19-17, 7-10 ACC) then shot themselves in the foot when rightfielder Stephen Pitarra dropped a fly ball hit by Cody Roberts, which allowed Riley to score.
Michael Busch singled home Roberts shortly after to give UNC a commanding 4-1 lead.
UNC would ultimately add three more runs over its final two innings at the plate–a bases-loaded walk drawn by Riley in the seventh, and a two-run single in the eighth from shortstop Logan Warmoth.
Rodney Hutchison pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Tar Heels, earning his first save of the season as a result.
Up Next:
Holding a commanding lead in the ACC Coastal Division, UNC will look to sweep the Wolfpack on Sunday–with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
