Saturday, April 20
Raleigh, N.C.
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North Carolina
30-10, 15-6
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North Carolina
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NC State
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Baseball Takes Finale From NC State, 14-3
April 20, 2024 | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. – Alex Madera and Colby Wilkerson provided a spark at the bottom of the order, combining for six hits, five RBIs, and seven runs, and No. 11 North Carolina defeated NC State 14-3 Saturday afternoon to become the first team to clinch a spot in the 2024 ACC Tournament.
Wilkerson went 4-for-5 with a home run, double, and four RBIs. Madera homered, drove in a run, and scored four.
Four days after hitting his 50th career home run, Vance Honeycutt recorded his 70th career stolen base and became the first 50-70 player in ACC history. He went 4-for-6 at the plate with two RBIs, two stolen bases, and two runs scored.
Carolina (30-10, 15-6 ACC) collected 12 hits, including four extra base hits and scored double digits runs for the 19th time.
"Our offense answered the bell today," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "I wasn't surprised by what I saw today. It's three times we've had our backs against the wall and that's not a position we want to be in. Whatever it is we have when our backs are against the wall, we need to have that for every game we play the rest of the season."
Junior Aidan Haugh (3-0) pitched six strong innings and allowed six hits, two runs, and one walk with three strikeouts. He is 2-0 as a starter this season.
"Aidan Haugh was huge for us," Forbes said. "He's really even-keeled and that helps him. He can get back in with any pitch: fastball, change-up, curveball. You look at the two home runs he gave up, he came right back and got the next guy out and that was really important."
The Tar Heels scored five runs in the third, getting all the runs they needed. Casey Cook, who collected three RBIs, put Carolina up 2-0 with a two-run single to right. Anthony Donofrio scored when Copper Consiglio's pick-off throw to first sailed down the right field.
Consiglio (1-4) took the loss, surrendering six runs, four hits, and four walks with four strikeouts.
Luke Stevenson lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in Cook. Parks Harber scored as Alberto Osuna avoided being caught in a rundown when Garrett Pennington's return throw went into center field.
Madera hit his second home run of the season in the fourth to make it 6-0.
UNC scored in each of the final four frames, scoring three in the sixth and ninth innings and a single run in the seventh and eighth.
Honeycutt had a two-run triple in the sixth and scored on Cook's sac fly. Wilkerson doubled home Madera in the seventh and Harber drove in Honeycutt in the eighth.
Wilkerson belted a three-run home run in the ninth. It was his second home run of the year.
"The most important thing for our offense is those guys [at the bottom of the order] find a way to get on base, and turn the lineup over" Forbes explained. "Those guys [at the top of the order] have big time power. We've talked about that, and that's helped them with their power. Their swings are shorter. They're not overmatched by a fastball."
Connor Bovair picked up his first save with three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three.
Jacob Cozart homered twice for NC State (22-15, 12-9), and Josh Hogue had an RBI single.
The Tar Heels return to action on Tuesday, April 23, against Gardner-Webb. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.
Wilkerson went 4-for-5 with a home run, double, and four RBIs. Madera homered, drove in a run, and scored four.
Four days after hitting his 50th career home run, Vance Honeycutt recorded his 70th career stolen base and became the first 50-70 player in ACC history. He went 4-for-6 at the plate with two RBIs, two stolen bases, and two runs scored.
Carolina (30-10, 15-6 ACC) collected 12 hits, including four extra base hits and scored double digits runs for the 19th time.
"Our offense answered the bell today," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "I wasn't surprised by what I saw today. It's three times we've had our backs against the wall and that's not a position we want to be in. Whatever it is we have when our backs are against the wall, we need to have that for every game we play the rest of the season."
Junior Aidan Haugh (3-0) pitched six strong innings and allowed six hits, two runs, and one walk with three strikeouts. He is 2-0 as a starter this season.
"Aidan Haugh was huge for us," Forbes said. "He's really even-keeled and that helps him. He can get back in with any pitch: fastball, change-up, curveball. You look at the two home runs he gave up, he came right back and got the next guy out and that was really important."
The Tar Heels scored five runs in the third, getting all the runs they needed. Casey Cook, who collected three RBIs, put Carolina up 2-0 with a two-run single to right. Anthony Donofrio scored when Copper Consiglio's pick-off throw to first sailed down the right field.
Consiglio (1-4) took the loss, surrendering six runs, four hits, and four walks with four strikeouts.
Luke Stevenson lifted a sacrifice fly to bring in Cook. Parks Harber scored as Alberto Osuna avoided being caught in a rundown when Garrett Pennington's return throw went into center field.
Madera hit his second home run of the season in the fourth to make it 6-0.
UNC scored in each of the final four frames, scoring three in the sixth and ninth innings and a single run in the seventh and eighth.
Honeycutt had a two-run triple in the sixth and scored on Cook's sac fly. Wilkerson doubled home Madera in the seventh and Harber drove in Honeycutt in the eighth.
Wilkerson belted a three-run home run in the ninth. It was his second home run of the year.
"The most important thing for our offense is those guys [at the bottom of the order] find a way to get on base, and turn the lineup over" Forbes explained. "Those guys [at the top of the order] have big time power. We've talked about that, and that's helped them with their power. Their swings are shorter. They're not overmatched by a fastball."
Connor Bovair picked up his first save with three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three.
Jacob Cozart homered twice for NC State (22-15, 12-9), and Josh Hogue had an RBI single.
The Tar Heels return to action on Tuesday, April 23, against Gardner-Webb. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Haugh, Aidan (3-0)
L: Cooper Consiglio (1-4)
S: Bovair, Connor (1)
Batting:
2B: Wilkerson, Colby 1
3B: Honeycutt, Vance 1
HR: Madera, Alex 1 ; Wilkerson, Colby 1
RBI: Honeycutt, Vance 2 ; Cook, Casey 3 ; Harber, Parks 1 ; Stevenson, Luke 1 ; Madera, Alex 1 ; Wilkerson, Colby 4
SF: Cook, Casey 1 ; Stevenson, Luke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Donofrio, Anthony 2 ; Honeycutt, Vance 2 ; Cook, Casey 1 ; Harber, Parks 1 ; Stevenson, Luke 1 ; Madera, Alex 4 ; Wilkerson, Colby 3
SB: Honeycutt, Vance 2 ; Cook, Casey 1 ; Harber, Parks 1
Batting:
2B: Alec Makarewicz 1
HR: Jacob Cozart 2
RBI: Josh Hogue 1 ; Jacob Cozart 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jacob Cozart 2 ; Alex Sosa 1
SB: Luke Nixon 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
6
R
2
H
4
RBI
2
AB
5
R
3
H
4
RBI
4
AB
3
R
4
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
RHP
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/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
1B/DH
/ Baseball
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/ BaseballINF
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