University of North Carolina Athletics
Sunday, April 2
South Bend, Ind.
12 p.m.
North Carolina
5
at
2
Notre Dame
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Diamond Heels Split Twin Bill With Notre Dame
April 2, 2023 | Baseball
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Connor Bovair scattered three hits over eight innings and Jackson Van De Brake drove in three runs to lead No. 13 North Carolina to a 5-2 win over Notre Dame in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday.
The victory clinched the Tar Heels first series win over Notre Dame since 2019.
Bovair (3-1), who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning for the second consecutive game, tossed five clean innings and struck out eight. Kevin Eaise got the final three outs for his second save of the series.
The Tar Heels held the Fighting Irish to three hits after surrendering 11 hits Friday in the series opener.
Patrick Alvarez, who robbed Carter Putz of a home run in the fourth, broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with a two-out RBI double. Colby Wilkerson drove Alvarez home with a base hit to left field.
Jackson Van De Brake homered to lead off the sixth and then drove home two runs in the ninth with a base hit to right field.
Vinny Martinez hit a two-run, two-out home run in the seventh to account for the Irish offense. Jack Findlay (4-1) took the loss.
Notre Dame won game two 9-1 as Jackson Dennies struck out seven in 4.2 innings and the Fighting Irish collected six extra base hits, including three home runs. Aidan Tyrell (5-1) earned the victory in 4.1 innings of relief.
UNC starter Jake Knapp (3-1) surrendered five runs on six hits, including three home runs, in 3.0 innings pitched. The Tar Heels used five relief pitchers over the final six innings.
North Carolina scored its only run in the eighth as Vance Honeycutt led off the frame with a home run. Casey Cook collected a career-high four hits in game two and finished with six hits total on the day.
The Diamond Heels return to action Tuesday, April 4, against South Carolina at Truist Field in Charlotte. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The victory clinched the Tar Heels first series win over Notre Dame since 2019.
Bovair (3-1), who carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning for the second consecutive game, tossed five clean innings and struck out eight. Kevin Eaise got the final three outs for his second save of the series.
The Tar Heels held the Fighting Irish to three hits after surrendering 11 hits Friday in the series opener.
Patrick Alvarez, who robbed Carter Putz of a home run in the fourth, broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with a two-out RBI double. Colby Wilkerson drove Alvarez home with a base hit to left field.
Jackson Van De Brake homered to lead off the sixth and then drove home two runs in the ninth with a base hit to right field.
Vinny Martinez hit a two-run, two-out home run in the seventh to account for the Irish offense. Jack Findlay (4-1) took the loss.
Notre Dame won game two 9-1 as Jackson Dennies struck out seven in 4.2 innings and the Fighting Irish collected six extra base hits, including three home runs. Aidan Tyrell (5-1) earned the victory in 4.1 innings of relief.
UNC starter Jake Knapp (3-1) surrendered five runs on six hits, including three home runs, in 3.0 innings pitched. The Tar Heels used five relief pitchers over the final six innings.
North Carolina scored its only run in the eighth as Vance Honeycutt led off the frame with a home run. Casey Cook collected a career-high four hits in game two and finished with six hits total on the day.
The Diamond Heels return to action Tuesday, April 4, against South Carolina at Truist Field in Charlotte. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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