University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Fairfield
No. 6 Carolina Pounds Fairfield, 10-2
March 5, 2016 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL --- No. 6 North Carolina tallied a season-high 15 hits and picked up its seventh straight victory with a 10-2 win over Fairfield Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. J.B. Bukauskas struck out eight in 5.1 innings to get his first win of the season for the Tar Heels, who have won three straight series to open the 2016 campaign. Brandon Riley had two doubles and a triple among his four hits and Eli Sutherland clubbed his team-leading second home run of the year to lead the Carolina offense.
Brian Miller had three hits and four stolen bases in the leadoff spot, including a rare feat in the second. After Sutherland homered to make it 3-0, Miller reached on a bunt single. He then stole second and third with Adam Pate at the plate before swiping home in a double steal. The sophomore now has a team-high six steals in six attempts.
Bukauskas held the Stags (3-2) scoreless through four before giving up a pair in the fifth. The sophomore righty then got the first out of the sixth before giving way to Chris McCue. The redshirt senior immediately got an inning-ending double play before working a 1-2-3 seventh in his first action of 2016.
Zach Rice and Brett Daniels retired the last six batters in order, striking out five. Eight of UNC's nine starters had at least one hit, including multi-hit performances by Riley, Miller, Sutherland and Kyle Datres.
Carolina (8-1) will go for its second straight sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. Jason Morgan will get the start opposite Fairfield's Aaron Howell.
