A pair of late-game home runs allowed the No. 23 North Carolina baseball team (2-0) to claim a walk-off 2-1 victory over Middle Tennessee (0-2) on Saturday.
Pitcher Joey Lancellotti's walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning propelled the Tar Heels to the win after centerfielder Dylan Harris tied the game with a solo shot in the eighth.
What happened?
North Carolina sophomore starting pitcher Will Sandy gave up a run off of a sacrifice fly in the first inning, but was able to keep the game close in his seven total innings pitched. The Blue Raiders' Peyton Wigginton, on the other hand, kept the Tar Heels scoreless in 7.2 innings on the mound.
To that point, bottom of the fourth inning was UNC’s best scoring opportunity at that point. With two outs, sophomore outfielder Will Schroeder hit a line drive to right field to end the inning, stranding two baserunners.
The Tar Heels went three up, three down in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Then, at the bottom of the eighth, after thirteen straight at bats without a hit, Harris stepped up to the plate and smacked a home run to right center field.
It was the first pitch of the at-bat, and would prove to be the one that brought UNC back.
Then, with one out in the ninth inning, designated hitter Lancellotti — who pitched 5.1 innings against the Blue Raiders Friday — blasted a home run to left field, sealing a 2-1 victory in walk-off fashion.
