University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Fairfield
March 6, 2016 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL --- Brian Miller had three more hits, Brandon Riley hit his first career home run and Jason Morgan picked up his first career win as No. 6 North Carolina completed its second straight weekend sweep with an 11-0 victory over Fairfield Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. Morgan struck out seven over a career-long 6.0 innings before five Tar Heel relievers completed the shutout.
Miller continued his torrid start to 2016 with three hits, including a double to lead off the four-run first. He now leads the team with a .419 batting average, seven points ahead of Tyler Ramirez, who sits at .412 after a 2 for 4 day on Sunday. Miller also stole his team-leading seventh base of the season in the second.
Carolina (9-1) broke open the game early against Fairfield starter Aaron Howell. After Miller's double, Adam Pate reached on a bunt single and Kyle Datres singled home Miller. Ramirez made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly before Tyler Lynn's RBI single plated Datres. Eli Sutherland then drove Logan Warmoth home with a sac fly to make it 4-0 and the Tar Heels never looked back.
Pate had a pair of hits and scored three times. He was one of five Tar Heels with at least two hits on the day, and Carolina banged out a season-high 15 safeties for the second day in a row. Warmoth, Lynn and Sutherland all drove in a pair as the Tar Heels reached double figures in runs for the fourth time in 2016.
Riley's first career home run opened the bottom of the seventh, and the lead grew to 11-0 after Zack Gahagan's single to left was misplayed by Fairfield (3-3).
Morgan commanded the strike zone throughout, working six innings and allowing just three hits and two walks. Of his 87 pitches on the day, 62 were strikes.
Brendon Little and Taylor Sugg both made their Carolina debuts out of the bullpen. Cody Roberts, who had the day off from catching duties, got the game's final two outs in his first appearance on the mound as a Tar Heel.
UNC will continue its 11-game homestand Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. against Gardner-Webb.
