Hokie ClubCHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Sixth-ranked North Carolina scored multiple runs in four separate innings and held Virginia Tech scoreless until the eighth as the Tar Heels won the first game of a three-game ACC series at Boshamer Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Three Hokies notched multi-hit games as the team had 10 hits total and had several opportunities to score before the eighth, but UNC used solid pitching and timely defense to keep them off the board.
JD Mundy and Nick Menken hit back-to-back singles to open the second then loaded the bases when Michael Fernandez put down a sacrifice bunt, but reached on a fielding error by the pitcher to load the bases.
However, UNC starter Cooper Criswell got a liner to second and a liner to first before ending the threat with a flyout to center.
North Carolina (35-17, 20-8 ACC) responded in the home half of the frame with two runs on back-to-back two-RBI singles from Brandon Martorano and Zack Gahagan.
In the fourth, Nick Owens singled with two outs and on a Stevie Mangrum double, tried to score, but a tremendous relay from shortstop Ike Freeman to the plate got Owens just in time.
The Tar Heels responded in that home half as well with another two spot – a two-run home run by Martotano – and also scored two runs in the sixth and seventh to claim 9-0 advantage.
Tech (21-31, 8-20 ACC) stranded two more on base in the sixth and Mangrum hit his second double of the game to lead off the seventh, but could not come home. In the eighth, Menken singled with two outs, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Michael Fernandez single. The Hokies also had two runners on in the ninth but a double play ended that threat.
Inside the Box
- Mangrum – two hits, ninth multi-hit game of the season, 14th of his career; two doubles, six this season, 16 in his career; second career two-double contest (at USC Upstate, Feb 18, 2017).
- Menken – three hits, 13th multi-hit game of the year/career; third game of season with three hits.
- Mundy – two hits, eighth multi-hit game of the season, 13th of his career.
- Jack Owens – double, eighth of the year, 24th of his career; has now reached base in 16 straight games, a team-season high.
- Luke Scherzer – two scoreless innings pitched, 16 this year, 69 in his career; one was perfect, five this season, 23 in his career; three strikeouts, 19 for the year, 100 in his Tech career.
- Graham Seitz – one scoreless inning pitched, 18 this year, 22 in his career; it was perfect, eight this season, nine in his career.
Up Next
- The Hokies and Tar Heels will continue the three-game ACC series on Friday with first pitch schedule for 6 p.m. However, with inclement weather in the forecast, please continue to check our schedule or @HokiesBaseball on Twitter for the latest updates.