North Carolina
6-2, 2-2
Virginia Tech
6-1, 3-1
Roberts Hits Two Home Runs In 10-6 Loss At No. 24 Virginia Tech
March 5, 2021 | Baseball
BLACKSBURG, Va.- Caleb Roberts launched two home runs Friday night, but it was not enough, as No. 25 North Carolina (6-2, 2-2) fell 10-6 to No. 24 Virginia Tech (6-1, 3-1) on English Field at Atlantic Union Ballpark.
North Carolina found itself up 6-1 in the middle of the fifth inning before Virginia Tech scored nine unanswered runs to take the first contest of the three-game slate.
After a scoreless first inning, North Carolina scratched a run across in the second frame. Danny Serretti drew a lead-off walk before Brett Centracchio smashed a double off the right-field wall to move Serretti to third base.
A sacrifice fly off of the bat Jake Holtzapple scored Serretti and the Tar Heels scored first for the fifth time in seven games.
Virginia Tech answered in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single to third base. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Hokies hit a chopper to third base to tie the contest.
Roberts hit his third home run of the season with two outs in the third inning to give North Carolina a 2-1 advantage.
During his next at-bat in the fifth inning, Roberts blasted a three-run home run to give UNC a 5-1 lead. It marks the second time this season Roberts has recorded multiple home runs in the same contest. He accomplished the feat on Feb. 19 against JMU.
North Carolina pushed its lead to 6-1 after Johnny Castagnozzi drew a walk with the bases loaded. Ten Tar Heels batters stepped into the batter's box in the fifth inning.
The Hokies put together a seven-run fifth inning to take an 8-6 lead after five frames. Virginia Tech added two more runs in the sixth inning with a solo home run and an RBI single to center field.
Angel Zarate and Clemente Inclan led off the eighth inning with back-to-back singles but the Tar Heels' offense could not advance the runners past first and second.
Centracchio turned in a 3-for-4 performance, while Tomas Frick, Castagnozzi, Max Troiani, and Inclan all posted a hit for North Carolina's offense.
The Tar Heels return to the diamond tomorrow for game two. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ryan Okuda (2-0)
L: Pry, Nik (0-1)
S: Shane Connolly (4)
Batting:
2B: Centracchio, Brett 1
HR: Roberts, Caleb 2
RBI: Roberts, Caleb 4 ; Castagnozzi, Johnny 1 ; Holtzapple, Jake 1
SF: Holtzapple, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zarate, Angel 1 ; Thompson, Justice 1 ; Roberts, Caleb 2 ; Frick, Tomas 1 ; Serretti, Danny 1
HBP: Roberts, Caleb 1
Batting:
2B: Gavin Cross 2 ; Tanner Thomas 1
3B: Tanner Schobel 1
HR: Jack Hurley 1 ; Cade Hunter 1
RBI: Jack Hurley 2 ; Gavin Cross 1 ; TJ Rumfield 1 ; Kevin Madden 2 ; Tanner Schobel 2 ; Cade Hunter 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jack Hurley 2 ; Gavin Cross 2 ; TJ Rumfield 1 ; Kevin Madden 1 ; Tanner Schobel 2 ; Cade Hunter 1 ; Fritz Genther 1
CS: Tanner Thomas 1
HBP: Jonah Seagears 1
