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UNC Baseball: Diamond Heels win series vs. Virginia

By Zack Pearson

Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of a bag of baseballs before the start of the game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Vanderbilt Commodores during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of the away jersey of the Vanderbilt Commodores and the home jersey of the Virginia Cavaliers before the start of game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of a bag of baseballs before the start of the game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Vanderbilt Commodores during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of the away jersey of the Vanderbilt Commodores and the home jersey of the Virginia Cavaliers before the start of game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Baseball program kept pace with Georgia Tech on top of the Coast Division with a series win over Virginia this past weekend

There are just two weekends of Atlantic Coast Conference play left and the North Carolina Tar Heels have put themselves in a good position. Coming off a big series sweep over Boston College last weekend and then a non-conference win over Coastal Carolina on Tuesday, UNC hosted Virginia for a big three-game weekend series.

The Tar Heels entered the game tied for first place in the Coastal Division with Georgia Tech at 31-11 overall and 13-8 in conference. They will leave the weekend in that same position with the Yellow Jackets after both teams won their respective series.

Now as we get down to the stretch run, it should make an interesting finish going into the ACC Tournament especially with seeding on the line.

Let’s take a look at the weekend recap.

Game 1

Virginia 12, UNC 5

The series got off to a great start for the Cavaliers on Friday in Chapel Hill.

Virginia jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a single and then an error. UNC would respond in the third inning with two runs of their own with a double by Danny Serretti and then Ashton McGee getting hit by a pitch. But UNC’s lead wouldn’t last long.

Virginia responded with three in the top of the fifth to take the lead and the UNC answered with two of their own. From there, Virginia would score three in the sixth and five in the eighth against UNC’s pen to route the Tar Heels.

Austin Love took the loss and dropped to 5-4 on the season.

Game 2

UNC 5, Virginia 4

In Saturday’s matinee, UNC got some revenge on the Cavaliers. For the second-straight game Virginia took the early lead by scoring two in the top of the first inning. UNC responded with a run of their own in the bottom of of the first when Ike Freeman singled to left.

The Tar Heels took the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring on a wild pitch, a double and a walk in the frame. Freshman Aaron Sabato got the only RBI on a hit in the inning, ripping a double to score a run.

Virginia added a single run in the third and fourth innings tying the game but it set up some heroics for the Tar Heels.

UNC’s  Ashton McGee singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, scoring Michael Busch as the game winner. Joey Lancellotti got the win to improve to 4-2 on the year. The walk-off tied the series and gave UNC a chance to win the series on Sunday.

Game 3

UNC 5, Virginia 4

Virginia got the scoring started early again for the third-straight game, plating a run in the top of the 3rd but UNC answered right back with a double from Busch. The Cavaliers took the lead back with a run in the fourth. The Tar Heels got two in the bottom in the fourth with a Jackson Hesterlee two-run homer that scored Freeman.

After scoring a run in the fifth and sixth inning to grab a 5-2 lead, UNC’s bullpen held off a late push from the Cavaliers who plated two in the eighth inning. Andrew Grogan got the win to go to 4-1 while Austin Love picked up his fourth save of the year.

What’s next?

UNC will have a weekend off in ACC play and will host Liberty and Winthrop in non-conference action this week. The Tar Heels still have conference series left on the road at Pitt and at home vs. N.C. State to close out the year.

Next. Where the Diamond Heels are projected in the field of 64. dark

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