Bullpen Shuts Down Gardner-Webb, Baseball Rallies For 5-2 Win

Tuesday, April 23

Chapel Hill

6 p.m.

North Carolina

31-10

Gardner-Webb

15-25

Gardner-Webb

North Carolina

April 23, 2024 | Baseball

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By: UNC Athletics Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Alex Madera drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, helping No. 15 North Carolina beat Gardner-Webb 5-2 at Boshamer Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Tar Heels (31-10) trailed 2-0 at the end of the fourth but scored two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh to earn their second straight win and improve to 24-1 at home this season.

"The good thing is we found a way [to win]," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "I told the guys this week that I wanted us to get better about manufacturing runs, and we were able to get two bunts down. At the end of the day, we won 5-2. We'll take it and move on to the weekend."

Parks Harber led off the sixth with a single against Garret Hodges (0-2), and Alberto Osuna reached on a dropped fly ball. Harber moved to third base on a fielder's choice and scored on Madera's fly ball to left field.

UNC added two runs in the seventh. Anthony Donofrio scored from third on an errant pick-off throw over to first base, allowing Casey Cook to advance to second. Harber then drove the 1-1 pitch into centerfield to bring Cook home.

Connor Bovair (1-0) got the win with two scoreless innings. Dalton Pence earned his fourth save with three strikeouts in two innings. Matthew Matthijs was the first UNC pitcher out of the bullpen and struck out four in 2 1/3 scoreless innings after entering the game with two runners on base and a 2-1 count on Peter Capobianco.

Matthijs struck him out swinging.

"I have to give Coach [Bryant] Gaines a lot of credit right there," Forbes said. "He was very adamant that we go the [Matthijs], and that's why you hire great coaches and trust them."

The bullpen held the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless over the final 6 1/3 innings, struck out eight and walked one.

"That's how you win games," Forbes said.

Gavin Gallaher had an RBI double and scored on a single through the left side by Vance Honeycutt off CJ Czerwinski as the Tar Heels rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the fifth. Luke Stevenson led off with a single and scored on Gallaher's double down the left line. Honeycutt blistered a ground ball between shortstop and third with two outs to drive home Gallaher with the tying run.

Gallaher reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a double, walk, run, and RBI. Harber had two hits, a run, and an RBI.

Gardner-Webb got its two runs in the third inning. Mark Black laced an RBI single to left, and Alec Burns followed with a sac fly.

The Bulldogs used eight pitchers, starting a different pitcher each of the first five innings.

UNC opens a three-game series against ACC Coastal Division foe Virginia Tech at Boshamer Stadium on Friday, April 26. The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.