Criswell Strikes Out 13, Leads Heels To Series Win Over Miami

Saturday, April 7

Coral Gables, Fla.

7 p.m.

North Carolina

21-10, 10-4

Miami

12-18, 6-8

North Carolina

Miami (FL)

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

April 7, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Overall Stats Play By Play Box Score

By: T.J. Scholl

Coral Gables, Fla. – Cooper Criswell had a career day on the mound striking out 13 of the 20 batters he faced as the Tar Heels took down Miami, 9-6, for its first series win in Coral Gables since 2008. The Tar Heels have now won seven straight games and 14 of its last 17.

Carolina got off to another quick start Saturday night as they scored an early run in the first inning to take the 1-0 lead, but it was short lived thanks to a three-run home run from Gabe Rivera in the bottom of the first to give the Hurricanes the 3-1 advantage.

Carolina tied the game in the third inning thanks to a sacrifice fly from Kyle Datres and a RBI single from Zack Gahagan. Michael Busch, who was hit by a pitch, made his way to third on two wild pitched before Datres brought him home with a long fly ball deep to centerfield to make it a one run game. Brandon Riley followed Datres as he legged out a double to left field to barely beat the throw to second base. Next up, Gahagan lined a single through the left side of the infield to score Riley to tie the game at three.

The Tar Heels regained the lead in the fourth inning with a big two out, bases loaded double from Michael Busch to clear the bases and put Carolina up, 6-3. Dallas Tessar led off the inning with perfect infield bunt for a single and was followed up by Ike Freeman's single to centerfield. After Cody Roberts walked to load the bases, Busch lined a ball down the third base line for the stand-up double.

Miami answered back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs of their own as the Tar Heels used three different pitchers to get out of the inning. Caden O'Brien came on in relief of the starter Austin Bergner before Cooper Criswell came on to finish the inning.

The Tar Heels extended its lead in the sixth inning scoring one run to make it 7-5. Freeman picked up his second hit of the game to centerfield before Brandon Martorano hit a triple to right field to score Freeman from first. It looked like Carolina was going to score again but Martorano was called out at the plate on a close play at home. Upon review on TV the tag was never applied, but Miami does not have replay in its stadium for the umpires to look at.

Carolina kept the pressure on and brought home two more runs in the seventh inning to increase their lead, 9-6. Datres led off the inning with a rocket down the left field line as he jogged to second base for the standup double. After a passed ball and walk to Gahagan, runners were on the corners for pinch hitter Clemente Inclan. For the third game in a row, Inclan delivered a RBI single as Datres scored from third and Gahagan went to third base. Freeman continued his hot day at the plate with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Gahagan and make it 9-5.

Miami would tack on one more run with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Hurricanes couldn't overcome Criswell as they lost 9-6.

The final game of the series will take place on Sunday, April 8 at 12 p.m. ET. The game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, but has been moved up due to weather.