Diamond Heels Win Second Straight Over Notre Dame

Saturday, April 13

Chapel Hill

2 p.m.

North Carolina

28-7, 13-4

Notre Dame

15-17, 2-15

Notre Dame

North Carolina

April 13, 2024 | Baseball

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By: UNC Athletics Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Anthony Donofrio hit his first leadoff home run, Shea Sprague pitched a solid 5 2/3 innings, and No. 13 North Carolina defeated Notre Dame 7-2 on Saturday to earn its second straight season series win over the Fighting Irish.

UNC (28-7, 13-4 ACC) improved to 22-0 at home this season and captured its 26th consecutive win at Boshamer Stadium, matching the school record set across the 1980-81 and 2017-18 seasons.

Donofrio went 3-for-5 with a double, stolen base, and two RBIs, including the game-winner in the fifth. His game-opening drive was the first by a Tar Heel this season.

Donofrio connected on right-hander Jack Radel's 2-2 pitch, driving it 401 feet over the centerfield wall. The homer was his fourth.

Alberto Osuna and Vance Honeycutt each hit a solo home run, Alex Madera had two hits and two RBIs, and Parks Harber collected a pair of singles.

Sprague (2-1) allowed two runs and five hits. He struck out four and walked one to earn his first win since his near-complete game effort against Georgia Tech on March 24.

"I felt great today," Sprague said. "My stuff was good, and I trusted it and tried to stay composed. I feel like every time I pitch, I get incredible run support. We jump out to a lead, and I'm able to settle in and keep going after them."

Dalton Pence pitched 1 1/3 shutout innings with two strikeouts before Matthew Matthijs closed the game with three strikeouts in two innings to close the game.

The left-handed Sprague didn't surrender a run until the sixth when Simon Bumgardt singled to center to plate TJ Williams, who was initially called out at the plate, but the call was reversed following a video review.

Notre Dame (15-17, 2-15) added a second run in the frame as Connor Hincks singled home Bumgardt.

Radel (2-2) allowed three runs and four hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked one.

The Tar Heels scored in six innings, with their biggest inning being the two-run sixth. Madera's bases-loaded single brought home Casey Cook and Harber, who hit back-to-back singles to lead off the frame before Luke Stevenson drew a one-out walk.

Osuna homered in the second, Donofrio had an RBI single in the fifth, Honeycutt went deep in the seventh, and Johnny Castagnozzi capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

"I think we have as potent a lineup as anyone in the country," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "We also have the speed factor, which puts pressure on the other team and makes the pitcher make mistakes. I'll put our lineup up against anybody."

The Tar Heels will try to sweep the series and register a school-record 27th consecutive home win on Sunday. Junior right-handed pitcher Aidan Haugh will make his first start for UNC, and right-handed sophomore Rory Fox will take the mound for the Fighting Irish. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m.