North Carolina
16-2
Rutgers
10-6
Baseball Extends Winning Streak Against Rutgers
March 13, 2024 | Baseball
Rutgers' Jordan Sweeney hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to make it a one-run game, but UNC reliever Matt Poston retired the next two batters to preserve the win.
The Tar Heels (16-2) have won 11 straight overall and 19 in a row at Boshamer Stadium, dating back to the final four games of the 2023 season.
Anthony Donofrio had two hits, two runs, and two stolen bases, while Alberto Osuna collected two hits and two RBIs.
The Tar Heels led 7-3 after six innings but held just a one-run advantage at the end of the seventh. The Scarlet Knights plated three in the frame, and the final two runs scored on a dropped fly ball with two outs.
The game was tied at 2-2 until the fourth when Gavin Gallaher raced home with the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Alex Madera lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Parker Haskin and double the Tar Heels' lead.
After scoring a run in the fifth, Carolina added two more runs in the sixth on a pair of wild pitches, with Casey Cook and Parks Harber scoring the sixth and seventh Tar Heel runs.
Carolina received a solid starting performance from Olin Johnson, who allowed just one earned run in four innings pitched. Kyle Percival (2-0) picked up the win in relief with 2.1 innings pitched, and Poston recorded his third save of the year.
The Tar Heels return to ACC play this weekend with a three-game series at Coastal Division rival Miami. The series' first game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. in Coral Gables, Fla.
NOTABLES:
• The Tar Heels won their 19th consecutive game at Boshamer Stadium, its longest streak since winning a program record 26 straight home games from March 30, 2017 – Feb. 26, 2018.
• Carolina's 11 straight wins are the most since winning 11 in a row during the 2017 season.
• North Carolina improved to 13-3 all-time against Rutgers and 11-2 at Boshamer Stadium.
• Osuna recorded his seventh multi-RBI game of the season. He has 15 RBIs during Carolina's current 11-game winning streak.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Percival, Kyle (2-0)
L: Ben Gorski (1-1)
S: Poston, Matt (3)
Batting:
2B: Pete Durocher 1 ; Hugh Pinkney 1
HR: Jordan Sweeney 1
RBI: Pete Durocher 1 ; Jordan Sweeney 2 ; Hugh Pinkney 1
SH: Cameron Love 1
Base Running:
RUNS: RJ Johnson Jr. 1 ; Trevor Cohen 2 ; Josh Kuroda-Grauer 1 ; Pete Durocher 2 ; Ty Doucette 1 ; Jordan Sweeney 1
Batting:
2B: Harber, Parks 1 ; Osuna, Alberto 1
HR: Stevenson, Luke 1
RBI: Madera, Alex 1 ; Harber, Parks 1 ; Osuna, Alberto 2 ; Stevenson, Luke 2
SH: Wilkerson, Colby 1
SF: Madera, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Madera, Alex 1 ; Harber, Parks 2 ; Cook, Casey 2 ; Donofrio, Anthony 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1 ; Haskin, Parker 1 ; Stevenson, Luke 1
SB: Donofrio, Anthony 2 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1
