University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
22-9, 8-4
Georgia Tech
18-13, 6-8
Diamond Heels Win Series At Georgia Tech
April 7, 2023 | Baseball
ATLANTA – Alberto Osuna's seventh-inning two-run homer broke open a three-run game and No. 13 North Carolina defeated Georgia Tech 10-6 in game one of a doubleheader on Friday.
The win, coupled with its 8-1 victory in the series opener Thursday, gave UNC its first series win over the Yellow Jackets since 2018 and first series triumph in Atlanta since 2017.
The Tar Heels scored eight runs between the second and fourth inning and led 8-1 after 5.5 innings. Mac Horvath drew a bases loaded walk, Jackson Van De Brake had a two-run single and Vance Honeycutt collected his second RBI of the game during the four-run fourth. Honeycutt and Osuna each had an RBI single in the second.
Hunter Stokely drove in both of UNC's runs in the third and finished the game with four hits and three RBIs.
Connor Bovair (4-1) allowed one first inning run but kept Georgia Tech off the scoreboard over the next four innings to earn the win before exiting in the sixth. He scattered five hits over the first five innings then was chased from the game in the sixth as the Yellow Jackets scored four runs. He surrendered a total of five runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 5.0 innings pitched.
Nik Pry pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth before Kevin Eaise closed it out in the ninth.
Luke Schmolke (4-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs on five hits with six walks in 3.0 innings pitched.
However, UNC had to settle for a split as Georgia Tech pounded out 15 hits to take game two, 8-4.
The Yellow Jackets scored five runs in the third highlighted by a three-run homer from Stephen Reid. They added three runs in the fifth on a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice bunt.
Horvath scored three of the Tar Heels' runs and drove in the other while going 2-for-3 at the plate. Van De Brake and Casey Cook also collected a pair of hits.
Ben King (3-0) earned the victory, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Jake Knapp (3-2) took the loss after he allowed four runs – two earned – on five hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
The Diamond Heels, 22-10 overall and 8-5 in the ACC, begin a nine-game homestand Tuesday against Queens University of Charlotte. The first pitch is slated for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bovair, Connor (4-1)
L: Luke Schmolke (4-1)
Batting:
2B: Wilkerson, Colby 1
HR: Osuna, Alberto 1
RBI: Horvath, Mac 1 ; Van De Brake, Jackson 2 ; Honeycutt, Vance 1 ; Stokely, Hunter 3 ; Osuna, Alberto 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Cook, Casey 1 ; Horvath, Mac 1 ; Van De Brake, Jackson 1 ; Honeycutt, Vance 2 ; Frick, Tomas 1 ; Stokely, Hunter 1 ; Osuna, Alberto 2 ; Wilkerson, Colby 1
HBP: Cook, Casey 1
Batting:
2B: Kristian Campbell 1 ; Jake DeLeo 1 ; Stephen Reid 1 ; Angelo Dispigna 1 ; John Giesler 1
HR: Angelo Dispigna 1
RBI: Jake DeLeo 2 ; Angelo Dispigna 2 ; Jack Rubenstein 1 ; John Giesler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kristian Campbell 1 ; Angelo Dispigna 2 ; Jackson Finley 1 ; Jack Rubenstein 1 ; John Giesler 1
SB: Kristian Campbell 1
HBP: Angelo Dispigna 1 ; Jack Rubenstein 1
