Tar Heels Edged In 11-10 Marathon Versus No. 11 ECU

Tuesday, March 30

Greenville, NC

6:30 PM

North Carolina

13-10

East Carolina

18-5

North Carolina

East Carolina

Photo by: ABE LOVEN

March 30, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Tar Heels claimed a 10-6 lead deep into the game on Tuesday in Greenville, but North Carolina (13-10) was ultimately edged 11-10 by No. 11 East Carolina (18-5) after a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.

North Carolina's power highlighted most of the four hour and thirteen-minute slugfest with four combined home runs, which was the most by the Tar Heels since hitting four against VMI on March 11, 2020.

The Tar Heels jumped out to an early two-run lead in the first inning after Danny Serretti deposited his fifth home run of the season to give UNC a 2-0 lead. Serretti plated Justice Thompson, who reached base after a lead-off double, with his home run. Carolina extended the lead to 4-0 after Johnny Castagnozzi sent a rocket to left-center to score Tomas Frick and Caleb Roberts.

East Carolina cut the lead to two in the home-half of the first frame after an RBI single and a bases loaded walk.

Carolina stayed patient at the plate in the second inning and drew three-straight walks to begin the frame. Caleb Roberts pushed UNC's lead to 6-2 with a one-out double to the right-center gap to score Thompson and Mac Horvath.

Again, ECU answered- this time with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the second to slash the UNC lead to 6-4.

The Pirates tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run home run.

North Carolina's bats exploded in the sixth inning with two home runs to take a 9-6 lead. Angel Zarate hit his second home run in three games to put the Tar Heels 8-6. Two at-bats later, Roberts hit his team-leading sixth home run of the season to put UNC in front by three.

Tyler Causey smashed UNC's fourth home run of the evening in the seventh inning, to give the Tar Heels 10 runs, Carolina's highest run total of the season.

Not going away, ECU hit two two-run home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at 10 runs a piece.

After a single and two walks, the Pirates walked off the win with a one-out RBI single to left field to deal the 11-10 victory.

North Carolina featured seven different pitchers on the mound tonight, which included Caleb Cozart, who made his first start of the season for Carolina. Shawn Rapp was the Tar Heels most effective reliever, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings. Davis Palermo suffered his first loss and fell to 0-1 on the year.

Castagnozzi and Roberts led the Tar Heel offense with three hits apiece.

North Carolina returns to the diamond on Friday at Florida State.