The No. 9 North Carolina baseball team nearly turned a wrong shade of blue after holding its breath for eight innings yesterday. Today, the team was able to exhale after three.
UNC (6-0) used a seven-run outburst in the second and third innings to remain undefeated with a 9-3 win over the Radford Highlanders (1-5).
What happened?
The Highlander bats were awake for the 2 p.m. start time Saturday. Radford’s offense began with a single from their starting pitcher, Danny Hrbek. Catcher Jonathan Gonzalez brought him home in the team’s next at-bat, slugging a two-run home run to the left-center power alley to push Radford ahead, 2-0.
The Tar Heels came with an answer in the bottom of the second, though. The slugfest started with two singles to lead off the inning by second baseman Zack Gahagan and outfielder Brandon Riley. The two were driven in after third baseman Kyle Datres laced a double down the third baseline.
On the very next pitch, designated hitter Ashton McGee squeaked a slow ground ball through the three-four hole to put runners at the corners. After a failed squeeze play that left Datres out to dry, the Tar Heels benefited from a shortstop error and a fielder’s choice to cap off the four-run inning.
After a scoreless top half of the third for the Highlanders, the Tar Heels continued to pile on. Logan Warmoth singled and Gahagan walked to put his shortstop in scoring position. With two outs, Datres garnered his third RBI of the game with a single through the five-six hole, driving in Warmoth.
After a McGee single and a Radford throwing error, Datres crossed the plate again.
The Tar Heels’ pitching came out triumphant for the second time in the series. UNC relied on its bullpen to take the game from the middle of the fifth.
