With RBIs from Jacob Stallings, Cody Stubbs and Tom Zengel, the Tar Heels put up six runs in the first inning. But Xavier responded with eight runs in the top of the second, chasing freshman starter Benton Moss from the game.

UNC made three errors and four pitching changes in that eight-run second, and by the end of the game, eight Tar Heels pitchers took the mound.

North Carolina finally found some stability in the middle innings once left-handed middle releiver R.C. Orlan entered for Chris Munnelly. The junior pitched three scoreless frames and notched four strikeouts before he handed the ball to Hobbs Johnson in the seventh.

In that time frame, the Tar Heels were able to establish a lead it would never relinquish, scoring five runs in the bottom of the fourth and tacking on another two in the fifth.

Despite some shaky pitching, UNC was clearly clicking offensively Friday. Every batter in the starting lineup finished with at least one hit, and all but two picked up at least one RBI. The team also received some significant contributions from its freshmen. Right fielder Michael Russell finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, and second baseman Mike Zolk drove in four — including the go-ahead runs in the fourth.

The Tar Heels took two out of three from Xavier in the first series of the season. They host a three-game set with Wright State, beginning Friday.