Diamond Heels Hit Six Home Runs To Complete Wake Forest Sweep

Sunday, March 31

Winston-Salem, N.C.

1 p.m.

North Carolina

25-4, 10-2

Wake Forest

17-10, 4-8

North Carolina

Wake Forest

March 31, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: UNC Athletics Communications

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Freshman Luke Stevenson crushed a 431-foot, three-run home run to right-center field to break a 10-10, ninth inning tie, and No. 14 North Carolina completed its three-game sweep of No. 12 Wake Forest with a 14-10 victory at David F. Couch Ballpark on Sunday.

Stevenson hit two of the Tar Heels' six home runs. Casey Cook, Alberto Osuna, and Gavin Gallaher collected a pair of hits with a home run, while Anthony Donofrio's lone hit was a solo shot.

Stevenson drove in six, hitting two three-run homers and going back-to-back with Gallaher in the ninth.

"He's so talented, and even as a freshman, he's a leader for us," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "He's a worker; he has gotten stronger. He had a big decision to make coming out of high school, and he trusted us. He came to UNC for all the right reasons, and he's being rewarded."

Osuna belted a three-run home run in the fifth to put the Tar Heels (25-4, 10-2 ACC) up 5-2, but Wake Forest (17-10, 4-8 ACC) scored five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to take a two-run lead.

Carolina plated four runs in the seventh, with an RBI double by Osuna and Stevenson's first three-run homer, to put UNC ahead 9-7. Casey Cook homered in the eighth to extend the lead to 10-7.

The Demon Deacons took advantage of an error and a base on balls in the eighth to tie the game. Jack Winnay scored after drawing a walk, and Cameron Gil came around to score the tying run after reaching on a Tar Heel miscue, which brought in Jake Reinisch.

"We knew today was going to be tough, and we might have to hit our way to a win, and that's exactly what we did," Cook said. "This is why we play games like this. It's the most fun you could ever have. These games are so gratifying. We wouldn't want it any other way."

Matt Poston retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out Reinisch to end the game.

Despite giving up the lead in the eighth, Matthew Matthijs (11-1) earned his NCAA-leading 11th win in two innings pitched.

"This is the most complete series we've played so far," Stevenson said. "I still think we're just scratching the surface of what we can do. We want to play our game, and our game is pretty good."

Wake Forest sophomore Ben Shenosky (2-2) allowed both home runs in the ninth, giving up four runs on two hits with a walk in one-third of an inning.

The Tar Heels return to the diamond on Thursday, April 4, when they open a three-game series against ACC Coastal Division rival Virginia in Charlottesville. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be televised on ACC Network.