Tar Heels Walk-Off Wake Forest in 15 Innings, 3-2

Friday, March 30

Chapel Hill

6 p.m.

North Carolina

16-10, 0

Wake Forest

11-15, 0

Wake Forest

North Carolina

March 30, 2018 | Baseball

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By: Davis Dupree

Carolina (16-10) picked up its first walk-off win of the year in the bottom of the 15 inning to take the series opener 3-2 over Wake Forest (11-15). In the longest game at Boshamer Stadium since a 15 inning game in 1982, the Tar Heel pitching staff didn't give up an earned run over 15 innings while striking out 18 batters.

The Heels jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead thanks to a single from Brandon Riley to plate Cody Roberts in the bottom of the first.

Wake Forest got on the board and took the lead in the fourth on a couple of RBI groundouts from Shane Muntz and Michael Ludowig. However, the lead wouldn't last long as the Heels tied it up in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single from Ashton McGee.

Things really settled down from there, as no runs were scored for the next 10 1/2 innings.

The Heels had a chance to retake the lead in the seventh after McGee and Brandon Martorano both got on to lead off the inning and bring up the top of the order. However, they were unable to push a run across and the score remained tied at two.

Tyler Baum turned in another good start for the Heels. He matched a career high in innings pitched with seven and allowed just four hits and two runs (neither earner) while striking out six on the day.

Wake Forest had their own chance to capitalize in the top of the eighth after a leadoff walk. DJ Poteet laid down a great sac bunt, but was called out on a runner's interference for the first out. Brett Daniels and Martorano got the Heels out of the inning with a strike 'em out, throw 'em out to end the inning and keep things knotted at two.

Martorano gave one a ride in the bottom of the ninth for a near walk-off two-run home run, but it was caught right at the warning track. He drove one sky high to straight-away center, but it fell just a few feet short of the wall and sent us to extra innings.

The Heels threatened again in the bottom of the 11^th, but Zach Gahagan was thrown out at the plate trying to score from third on a grounder to short.

The next three innings saw little action aside from the rare 14 inning stretch, but that would change in the bottom of the 15. Roberts led off by grounding to the pitcher, but an error on the throw to first advanced him to second and he advanced to third on a sac fly from Kyle Datres. That brought Riley to the plate, who proved to be the hero. He chopped one over the head of the shortstop who was playing in on the infield grass to bring in Roberts and walk it off.

Cooper Criswell picked up the win after tossing a scoreless 15, but it was Josh Hiatt that carried the bullpen. Hiatt set career highs in innings pitched (5.2), strikeouts (8) and total pitches (81), all while not allowing a run. The Tar Heel pitching staff combined to strike out 18 on the night while only issuing four walks and not allowing an earned run all night.

Carolina and Wake Forest square off for game two of the series tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.