Baseball Secures Series Win Over Virginia Tech

Saturday, April 27

Chapel Hill

2 p.m.

North Carolina

33-10, 0

Virginia Tech

26-14, 0

Virginia Tech

North Carolina

April 27, 2024 | Baseball

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By: UNC Athletics Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Junior Shea Sprague pitched 6 2/3 solid innings for his third win, Casey Cook homered, and No. 15 North Carolina extended its winning streak to four games with a 6-3 victory over Virginia Tech at Boshamer Stadium on Saturday.

Parks Harber, Alex Madera, Gavin Gallaher, and Colby Wilkerson each drove in a run as UNC (33-10, 17-6 ACC) won its seventh consecutive home series. Madera and Vance Honeycutt had two hits apiece and Honeycutt stole a career-best four bases.

"We love our depth; we feel like it's a big strength of our team, and you got to have it," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "We've had guys step up."

After giving up two hits in the first, Sprague (3-1) didn't allow another hit until a lead-off single by Clay Grady in the fifth, who was erased from the base paths on a double play.

The Tar Heels turned two three times in the first five innings and completed a season-high four double plays.

Sprague retired the first two batters of the seventh and was then lifted after 99 pitches. He struck out the final batter of an inning four times and finished with six strikeouts against four hits, two walks and one run allowed.

"He makes the big pitch," Forbes said. "He raises to a level in bigger situations and makes that big pitch."

Cook belted a two-run homer in the third inning off Brett Renfrow (5-2) to put the Tar Heels in front 2-1 after the Hokies (26-14, 12-11) got a run in the first.

Carolina extended its lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Madera and Gallaher had back-to-back RBI singles, and Wilkerson squeezed home Madera on a perfectly executed bunt.

Renfrow allowed four runs—all earned—seven hits, three walks, in 5 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.

Harber's sacrifice fly brought home Honeycutt in the seventh.

Honeycutt reached base four times with a double, two runs, and two walks. He stole second and third base standing up in the first inning.

"Vance — he's a freak, let's be honest,' Forbes said. "I've never seen anything like it. His speed is unreal, and his defense is unreal."

Christian Martin hit a two-run homer in the eighth to pull Virginia Tech within three runs. The Hokies put the tying run on deck in the eighth, but Connor Bovair induced UNC's fourth double play to end the inning.

Dalton Pence got the final two outs in the ninth for his fifth save.

UNC right-hander Aidan Haugh (3-0, 3.06 ERA) takes the mound in Sunday's series finale, while right-hander Griffin Stieg (3-2, 4.79 ERA) gets the start for Virginia Tech. The game is set for 1 p.m.

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