University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Liberty
No. 22 Tar Heels Blank Liberty, 6-0
April 9, 2015 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL --- Elijah Sutherland's bases-clearing double in the sixth broke open a 1-0 game and No. 22 North Carolina blanked visiting Liberty 6-0 Wednesday night at Boshamer Stadium. Hunter Williams worked six innings for his third straight midweek win and Korey Dunbar clubbed his fourth home run of the year for the Tar Heels, who improved to 20-13 with the win.
Williams (3-1) and Shawn Clowers (7-2) traded zeroes through four innings before the Tar Heels opened the scoring in the fifth. Tyler Ramirez and Adrian Chacon reached on a hit by pitch and a walk, and Zack Gahagan's two-out single plated Ramirez to give UNC a 1-0 lead.
Sutherland made it 4-0 in the sixth with his fourth double of the year. Skye Bolt singled and Ramirez doubled before Clowers issued a two-out intentionaly walk to Dunbar. With the bases loaded, Sutherland drove a 1-0 pitch to the gap in left center to drive in all three and give the Tar Heel bullpen a cushion.
Trevor Kelley entered the game in the seventh with two on and nobody out and got a 4-3 double play and a popup to end the Liberty (21-12) threat. The senior allowed just a two-out single to Becker Sankey before Hansen Butler took over for a scoreless ninth.
Dunbar capped the scoring in the eighth with his opposite field blast off Alex Close. The junior backstop now has 14 extra-base hits on the year and leads the team with a .574 slugging percentage.
For Williams, it was a third consecutive strong outing in a midweek start. In wins against Appalachian State, Elon and Liberty, the freshman lefty has worked 18.0 innings and allowed just two runs on seven hits while striking out 17.
Carolina continues its seven-game homestand with the first of three against local rival North Carolina State Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Tickets are limited, with Saturday's game at Boshamer already sold out.
