No. 4 Carolina Powers Past BC, 17-7

Saturday, April 8

Chestnut Hill, Mass.

2:30 PM

North Carolina

24-6, 10-3

Boston College

9-18, 1-12

North Carolina

Boston College

April 8, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL --- Zack Gahagan's grand slam highlighted a 7-run sixth and No. 4 North Carolina used four home runs to slug past Boston College 17-7 Saturday afternoon at Commander Shea Field. Rodney Hutchison Jr. tossed four scoreless innings in relief to get his fourth win of the year as the Tar Heels won their sixth straight game to improve to 24-6 and 10-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Logan Warmoth, Kyle Datres and Brian Miller also homered for Carolina, which posted its most runs in a game since a 17-2 win over William & Mary last season. Every Tar Heel starter either drove in a run or scored one, led by Gahagan's four RBIs and three runs scored.

J.B. Bukauskas labored through his shortest outing of the season, allowing seven runs (five earned) and striking out five in four innings. He was plagued by some sloppy defensive play early from the Tar Heels as well as two walks and a hit batter.

Boston College (9-18, 1-12 ACC) scored five times in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-6 lead, but Datres' solo homer to left immediately tied the game in the fifth.

It was Miller's home run off BC starter Jacob Stevens (2-4) in the sixth that put UNC back in front. Stevens allowed 11 runs (nine earned) on nine hits and five walks. He left with one gone in the sixth, and two more walks by Zach Stromberg loaded the bases for Gahagan. The Fletcher, North Carolina, junior sent a 3-2 pitch out to left for his first career grand slam and the first for a Tar Heel in nearly two years.

Gahagan's blast gave Hutchison some breathing room, and the sophomore right-hander eased the Tar Heels through the late innings. He allowed just two hits over four shutout frames and struck out five to improve to 4-1 on the year.

Run-scoring hits by Warmoth and Ashton McGee and a bases-loaded walk by Tyler Lynn capped the scoring in the seventh.

Bo Weiss worked a scoreless ninth in his first career ACC outing.

Donovan Casey had two hits and drove in two runs to pace the Boston College offense.

Carolina and BC will conclude the series Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 11:30 a.m.