No. 30 North Carolina Takes Down South Carolina 11-3 In Charlotte

Tuesday, April 3

Charlotte, N.C. (BB&T Ballpark)

7 p.m.

North Carolina

19-10

South Carolina

17-12

North Carolina

South Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

No. 30 North Carolina Takes Down South Carolina 11-3 In Charlotte

April 3, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Overall Stats Play By Play Box Score

By: T.J. Scholl

Charlotte, N.C. – No. 30 North Carolina defeated South Carolina 11-3 at BB&T Ballpark on Tuesday evening thanks to a combined eight runs in the eighth and ninth innings for the Tar Heels and seven consecutive shutout innings on the mound from freshman Caden O'Brien and Joey Lancellotti. In its last three games against South Carolina, the Tar Heels have now outscored the Gamecocks 46-8 and have scored in double figures in all three wins.

Cody Roberts wasted no time getting the first hit of the game as he took the second pitch of the evening to centerfield to put one on and no out for the Heels. With two outs and two strikes, Riley delivered with a single of his own to drive Roberts in for the early 1-0 lead.

South Carolina responded with three unanswered runs over the next three innings to take a 3-1 lead in to the fourth inning. The Gamecocks scored one run in each of the first three innings, all by the leadoff batters, for its first lead in the last three games against the Tar Heels.

Neither team would score again until the sixth inning when the Heels tacked on two runs to tie the game, 3-3. After three straight walks loaded the bases, Riley drew a walk after starting the at bat with two strikes to bring home the second run of the game. With bases loaded, Gahagan struck out in the next at bat, but the ball got away from the South Carolina catcher and Busch sprinted home to tie the game.

South Carolina threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning, but with the bases loaded and two outs, Joey Lancellotti struck the Gamecock batter to keep the score tied at 3-3.

The Tar Heels regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning after scoring four runs to take the 7-3 lead. After Michael Busch, Kyle Datres and Riley loaded the bases, senior Zack Gahagan put together a heck of an at bat to as he fouled off five pitches before launching one to centerfield for a sacrifice fly to score Busch and give the Heels the 4-3 lead. After McGee pushed Datres and Riley both in to scoring position, Ike Freeman perfectly executed a drag bunt down the third base line to surprise the Gamecocks and score Datres as he beat the throw to first. With two on and two outs, freshman Clemente Inclan hit a single to right field to clear the bases as Carolina went in to the bottom of the eighth inning lead 7-3.

Carolina added another four spot in the ninth inning capped off with Ashton McGee's first home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field for the 11-3 lead.

Joey Lancellotti picked up his first collegiate win for the Tar Heels after throwing a career high four innings without giving up or run while striking out four batters. Caden O'Brien also came on in relief of starter Taylor Sugg and threw three shutout innings only surrendering one hit while striking out two batters.

The Tar Heels will face Miami this weekend in Coral Gables in a big three-game ACC series. The series will begin on Friday at 7 p.m. with the following two games coming on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.