University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Coastal Carolina
No. 13 Tar Heels Fall To No. 16 Chants, 6-3
April 20, 2016 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL --- Zack Gahagan drove in three runs and hit his fourth home run of the season, but No. 13 North Carolina couldn't dig out of an early hole and fell 6-3 to No. 16 Coastal Carolina Tuesday night at Boshamer Stadium. Rodney Hutchison struck out seven in 4.2 innings of relief for the Tar Heels, who host William & Mary Wednesday night at 6. Connor Owings and Billy Cooke drove in two runs each for the Chanticleers, who have won 21 of their last 24 games.
Coastal (28-10) jumped on UNC starter Hunter Williams for four runs in the first, highlighted by Owings' two-run triple to right. The Tar Heels pulled one back in the second on Gahagan's RBI single, but the Chants got two more in the third to push their lead to 6-1.
Six Carolina relievers, highlighted by Hutchison's career night, kept the visitors stuck on six for the rest of the game. The freshman right-hander allowed just two hits in a career-high 4.2 innings of work and struck out a career-best seven.
UNC (25-12) added single runs in the fourth and sixth on a Gahagan sac fly and solo home run, but Austin Kitchen (3-0) got Coastal to the eighth before Mike Morrison recorded the final five outs for his fifth save of the year.
Brandon Riley had two hits and two runs scored for the Tar Heels, who welcome W&M to Boshamer Stadium Wednesday night at 6.
