University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Oklahoma State
No. 10 Carolina Rallies Past No. 11 OSU To Win In Extras
February 27, 2016 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL --- Brian Miller's bases loaded single in the bottom of the 10th gave No. 10 North Carolina a 6-5 victory over No. 11 Oklahoma State Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium, its second straight walk-off win. Cody Roberts had three hits and drove in a pair for the Tar Heels, who climbed out of an early 4-0 hole and improved to 4-1 on the year with their second consecutive series win over a ranked opponent.
Oklahoma State (2-4) got a dream start thanks to Dustin Williams' grand slam off J.B. Bukauskas in the first. But Carolina quickly halved the lead against OSU starter Michael Mertz, scoring twice on a Kyle Datres RBI single and a bases-loaded walk by Logan Warmoth.
The Cowboys pushed their lead back to three in the third and chased Bukauskas in the process, but the Carolina bullpen responded. Spencer Trayner entered with the bases loaded and got the second out of the inning when a ball bounced off the backstop to Roberts, who fired home for the out. Trayner then got Garrett McCain to ground out to strand a pair and set the stage for a Tar Heel rally in the bottom half.
Mertz lasted just two more batters, leaving after a Datres single and a Ramirez walk. Roberts drove in two with a bases loaded single off Blake Battenfield and UNC tied it when OSU shortstop Donnie Walton misplayed a Zack Gahagan grounder.
Carolina took its first lead of the day on another unearned run in the fifth, but the Cowboys pushed across the tying run in the eighth to ultimately force extras.
OSU had the go-ahead run on third in the 10th after a heads-up play by Warmoth. With two on and one out, the Tar Heel shortstop retrieved a flare to left that was knocked down by Tyler Lynn and fired to second for a fielder's choice. Cole Aker (2-1) then got Conor Costello swinging to strand two and Miller's hit won it in the bottom half.
Brandon Riley led off the 10th with a pinch walk and moved to second on Roberts' third hit of the day. After falling in an 0-2 hole, Eli Sutherland drew a 9-pitch walk to load the bases for Miller, whose chopper over a drawn-in infield ended it.
Trey Cobb (0-2) got the last two outs of the ninth but surrendered the game-winning run in the 10th to take the loss.
The UNC bullpen combined to throw 7.2 innings and allow just one run on three hits with 10 strikeouts. A.J. Bogucki was especially effective, striking out a pair and retiring all five men he faced.
Carolina will go for the series sweep Sunday at noon with Jason Morgan on the mound against OSU's Jensen Elliott.
