UNC Grits Out Game Three Win, 9-6

Sunday, March 7

Blacksburg, VA

1 PM

North Carolina

7-3, 3-3

Virginia Tech

7-2, 4-2

North Carolina

Virginia Tech

Photo by: Dave Knachel

March 7, 2021 | Baseball

Box Score

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Box Score (PDF)

BLACKSBURG, Va. – No. 17/24 North Carolina's resilience was on full display in a 9-6 game three win over No. 16/24 Virginia Tech (7-2, 4-2) on Sunday afternoon.

The Tar Heels (7-3, 3-3) surrendered a three-run lead in the second inning to go down by one but responded with four runs in the middle innings to win by three.

Nine runs today brought the Tar Heels' weekend total to 25, the most runs in a weekend against an ACC opponent since April 20-21, 2019 against Boston College (35).

Nick James was a star for the Tar Heels out of the bullpen and picked up his first win of the season. He threw 2.1 hitless, scoreless innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

North Carolina's bats came alive early in game three and posted a four-run second inning. After a lead-off double from Max Troiani, Tomas Frick was hit by a pitch in the forcing. During the ensuing at-bat, Clemente Inclan singled to center field to score two runs.

With the bases loaded, Angel Zarate poked an RBI single to right field to score Frick. The Tar Heels scored the final run of the inning when Caleb Roberts hit a sac fly to left field to score Danny Serretti, who walked earlier in the inning.

The Hokies responded with a five-spot in the second frame. Virginia Tech belted two home runs and took advantage of a wild pitch to take the one-run lead, 5-4.

Never backing down, the Tar Heels evened the contest in the third with an RBI single from Frick.

James was impressive out of the bullpen and retired the first four batters he faced after he replaced Connor Ollio with two outs in the fourth inning.

Serretti put the Tar Heels back on top with his first home run of 2021 in the sixth inning.

Carolina threatened again in the sixth with the bases loaded and two outs, but Brett Centracchio's fly ball feet from the warning track in the left-center field was caught.

The Tar Heels' offense delivered with a three-run seventh inning to extend to advantage to 9-5. Serretti collected his second RBI of the game with a single right field before Tyler Causey poked a pinch-hit RBI single of his own.

Zarate plated Serretti with sac bunt for the Tar Heels' ninth run of the game.

After consecutive innings with runs, the game ended two scoreless frames.

Max Alba started the game for Carolina and went 1.1 innings. Connor Ollio pitch the following 2.1 innings. Shawn Rapp closed the game tossed the final 3.0 innings. He struck out three Hokies but surrendered a walk and an earned run.

Carolina returns to the field Tuesday against Liberty on Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

For up-to-date information on Carolina baseball, visit GoHeels.com/Baseball and follow us on Twitter (@DiamondHeels) and Instagram (@carolinabaseball).