The North Carolina baseball team (24-17, 8-13 ACC) defeated the Liberty Flames (26-13, 12-6 ASUN), 8-1, at home on Wednesday, bouncing back from last week's sweep against Virginia.
What happened?
In an uneventful first inning, the only Tar Heel to reach first base was redshirt junior Angel Zarate, who grounded to center field. The second inning saw much more action as UNC put their first run on the board with a single from redshirt junior Max Riemer. Running in and taking the lead was sophomore Hunter Stokely.
This was the play that opened the flood gates for the Diamond Heels.
Senior Mikey Madej singled to left center as sophomore Alberto Osuna cruised across home plate, bringing it to a two-run lead for North Carolina. A bunt from first-year Vance Honeycutt loaded the bases, and a wild pitch from Liberty’s Trey Gibson scored a third run as Honeycutt and Zarate advanced.
Later in the inning, junior Danny Serretti reached base on an error by Liberty’s shortstop, allowing Honeycutt and Zarate to run home. The Tar Heels ended the dominant second inning with a 5-0 lead.
Just a few pitches into the third inning, The Flames responded and put their first run on the board with a homer from Gray Betts that was knocked out of the park.
After a short scoring drought, the fourth inning ended with another impressive offensive performance from the Tar Heels. A hard hit ball from Sophomore Mac Horvath soared over the left field fence, scoring two more runs for North Carolina.
The Flames switched to their third pitcher of the game in fifth inning, but North Carolina’s scoring rampage didn’t stop. Sophomore Johnny Castagnozzi hit another home run to right field and increased the lead, 8-1.
