CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The UConn baseball team (7-11) earned a Top-25 victory with a 5-1 win at No. 17 North Carolina (16-5) on Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
The UConn pitching staff was limited the Tar Heels offense to one run on just six hits. The lone run came on a lead off home run from Kane Kepley.
The Huskies responded to the run for the Tar Heels with a two-out, two-run single from fifth year senior Bryan Padilla in the second to take a 2-1 advantage.
In the third, UConn added on with a pair of sacrifice flies from Grant MacArthur and Connor Lane. Gaby Tirado picked up his first career RBI with a bases loaded walk in the frame.
The UConn bullpen combined for 8.0 shutout innings with Evan Hamberger (2.0 IP), Sam Hutchinson (2.2 IP), Greg Shaw III (2.0 IP) and Brady Afthim (1.1 IP) shutting down the Carolina offense.
Afthim earned the four-out save by coming into the bottom of the eighth with bases loaded and two outs and getting Alex Madera to ground out to second on the first pitch he threw.
The Huskies defense was strong on Wednesday by turning a pair of double plays and getting a couple big plays from Tyler Minick to squash a rally in the sixth.
The UConn third baseman made a diving stop to rob Gavin Gallaher of extra bases and then helped Hutchinson get out of the frame on a softly hit ball to the left side that he cut off and fired a strike to first to end the threat.
Beau Root registered his first career multi-hit game for the Huskies with a four-hit day at the plate.
Next up, the Huskies wrap up spring break with a three-game series at UNC Greensboro beginning on Friday, March 21 at 6 p.m.
Game Notes
- The Huskies are 2-0 this season against ranked opponents this season.
- UConn is 3-2 against ACC opponents this season.
- Rob Rispoli extended his reach base streak to 16 on Wedesday.
- The UConn offense drew a season-high eight walks.
- For the first time this season, Grant MacArthur did not reach base.
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