University of North Carolina Athletics

Diamond Heels Lose 5-4 To Clemson In Walk-Off
May 19, 2023 | Baseball
CLEMSON, S.C. – Senior Blake Wright's two-out ninth inning single drove home Caden Grice and gave No. 7 Clemson a 5-4 walk-off win over North Carolina on Friday night.
Benjamin Blackwell collected three of the Tigers' nine hits, and Billy Amick drove in two.
Grice drew a one out walk off reliever Matt Poston (3-3), who came on in relief to start the inning. Amick was struck by a 2-2 pitch that sent Grice to second. Riley Bertram flew out to left for the second out, but Wright hit Poston's next pitch into left to score Grice.
Despite giving up the tying run in the ninth, Ryan Ammons (2-0) got the win.
Colby Wilkerson scored the tying run with a head-first slide – beating the throw home – with two outs in the ninth on a double by Jackson Van De Brake that dropped in shallow center.
Wilkerson was the only Tar Heel to collect multiple hits, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate.
Patrick Alvarez belted a three-run homer with one down in the second to put the Tar Heels ahead 3-0 after Tomas Frick singled to lead off the inning and Johnny Castagnozzi drew a one-out walk.
Clemson tied the game in the third as Amick drove in two runs with a single to right after Grice was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Cannarella and Cooper Ingle drew consecutive one-out walks after Blackwell doubled to start the frame.
UNC starter Jake Knapp was on the verge of escaping the inning with minimal damage, striking out Will Taylor before beaning Grice and bringing Amick to the plate.
Cannarella gave Clemson a 4-3 lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Ben Peterson tossed four scoreless innings in relief of Knapp, who allowed four runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
UNC and Clemson will conclude the series Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ACC Network.
Benjamin Blackwell collected three of the Tigers' nine hits, and Billy Amick drove in two.
Grice drew a one out walk off reliever Matt Poston (3-3), who came on in relief to start the inning. Amick was struck by a 2-2 pitch that sent Grice to second. Riley Bertram flew out to left for the second out, but Wright hit Poston's next pitch into left to score Grice.
Despite giving up the tying run in the ninth, Ryan Ammons (2-0) got the win.
Colby Wilkerson scored the tying run with a head-first slide – beating the throw home – with two outs in the ninth on a double by Jackson Van De Brake that dropped in shallow center.
Wilkerson was the only Tar Heel to collect multiple hits, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate.
Patrick Alvarez belted a three-run homer with one down in the second to put the Tar Heels ahead 3-0 after Tomas Frick singled to lead off the inning and Johnny Castagnozzi drew a one-out walk.
Clemson tied the game in the third as Amick drove in two runs with a single to right after Grice was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Cannarella and Cooper Ingle drew consecutive one-out walks after Blackwell doubled to start the frame.
UNC starter Jake Knapp was on the verge of escaping the inning with minimal damage, striking out Will Taylor before beaning Grice and bringing Amick to the plate.
Cannarella gave Clemson a 4-3 lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Ben Peterson tossed four scoreless innings in relief of Knapp, who allowed four runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
UNC and Clemson will conclude the series Saturday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on ACC Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ryan Ammons (2-0)
L: Poston, Matt (3-3)

Batting:
2B: Van De Brake, Jackson 1 ; Wilkerson, Colby 1
HR: Alvarez, Patrick 1
RBI: Van De Brake, Jackson 1 ; Alvarez, Patrick 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Frick, Tomas 1 ; Castagnozzi, Johnny 1 ; Alvarez, Patrick 1 ; Wilkerson, Colby 1

Batting:
2B: Benjamin Blackwell 1
RBI: Cam Cannarella 1 ; Caden Grice 1 ; Billy Amick 2 ; Blake Wright 1
SF: Cam Cannarella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cam Cannarella 1 ; Cooper Ingle 1 ; Caden Grice 1 ; Blake Wright 1 ; Benjamin Blackwell 1
SB: Cam Cannarella 1 ; Benjamin Blackwell 1
HBP: Caden Grice 1 ; Billy Amick 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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