Hokie ClubCHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In the final game of Virginia Tech's 2018 season, sixth-ranked North Carolina held the Hokies to just three hits and one run as the Tar Heels clinched the top seed in the upcoming ACC Baseball Championship with a 6-1 victory Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
North Carolina (37-17, 22-8 ACC) staked a 3-0 lead after the first three frames, scoring its first run in the second thanks to a Tech error, then loaded the bases in the third before pushing two runs across the plate with a walk and sacrifice fly.
Tech (21-33, 8-22 ACC) scored its lone run of the game in the fifth, aided by a pair of free passes and a wild pitch. With one out and runners on first and second, Jack Owens beat out a possible double-play ball, putting runners on the corners. Nick Owens scampered home on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.
The Tar Heels answered back with three in the home half, chasing starting Connor Coward (his last start in a Tech uniform) and using a two-out, two-RBI double by Ashton McGee to cap the frame and close the game's scoring at 6-1.
Inside the Box
- Coward – two scoreless innings pitched, 53 for the season, 126 in his career; one was perfect, 29 this year, 55 for his career.
- Nic Enright – two scoreless innings pitched, 31 for the season, 55 in his career; one was perfect, 15 this year, 25 for his career two strikeouts, 14th time this season and 23rd time in his career with at least two in an appearance.
- Michael Fernandez – double, sixth of the season; two hits, his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
- Sam Fragale – one hit, finished his Tech career with 197.
- JD Mundy – with walk in the ninth, extended his consecutive reached base streak to a career-best 12 straight games.
- J. Owens – consecutive reached base streak ended at 17 straight games, a team-season high.