ACC powerhouse and Omaha mainstay UNC took care of business against Ole Miss at Charles Schwab Field in Friday’s nightcap.
In the opening game for two power programs, they leaned on their pitchers to keep them steady through the first three innings. Read more: Tar Heels stomp Rebels, 6-2.
Power Four pitchers’ duel
Ole Miss was not able to garner any hits in the top half of the first inning, and it was the same for the Tar Heels.
The Rebels collected a baserunner on a walk by Hayden Federico, but nothing came of it.
For the Tar Heels, they were able to get things going on the basepaths, with the first hit coming from left fielder Tyler Howe, but Rebel righty Taylor Rabe was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout.
Brayden Randle got the Rebels their first hit with a double to shallow left field. Dom Decker scored Randle on a double. Ole Miss took the lead, 1-0.
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North Carolina couldn’t get things going on the basepaths, leaving them empty. The Tar Heel defense responded in the top of the fourth, holding the Rebels scoreless again.
Tar Heels Cooper Nicholson drew a two-out walk with a runner on, but they were unable to respond.
Nicholson then made a big play to get the Tar Heels out of a fifth-inning jam. Ole Miss held steady at 1-0. Jake Schaffner drew a one-out walk to give UNC another opportunity, but they were unable to capitalize.
In the sixth inning, Owen Paino hit Fredrico from first to third on a single to center field but advanced on the throw to third. Pitcher Jason Decaro got the Tar Heels out of the jam.
UNC’s Owen Hull was tired of the one-hit night for the Tar Heels and decided to take matters into his own hands, hitting a solo shot out to left field to tie the game up at one.
Hotty Toddy catches fire, Heels storm back
Dom Decker, the Ole Miss’ second baseman, answered with a two-out double. North Carolina put in its number one reliever, right-hander Caden Glauber, but that wasn’t enough to stop the two-out rally, as Jud Utermark hit Decker around. Ole Miss took its lead back 2-1 at the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, UNC scored two runs on a sacrifice fly by Schaffner to score Howe, and then Gallaher singled to score Hynek. Tar Heels took the lead by one, 3-2. North Carolina survived the threat from Ole Miss and continues its hot streak. Colin Hynek hit a three-run shot to left-center to extend the Tar Heel lead to 6-2.
Ole Miss was unable to attack in the top half of the ninth.
What’s next
North Carolina advances to the winners bracket game against West Virginia, Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.
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Ole Miss heads to the elimination game to take on Troy University, Sunday at 2 p.m EST.
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