UNC Baseball: Tar Heels beat VCU behind eight runs at the Bosh

UNC baseball beats VCU at Boshamer Stadium behind eight runs, 11 hits and a pair of round-trippers

Angel Zarate went 2-for-3 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI, as North Carolina beat VCU by a final score of 8-3 behind a strong offensive showing at Boshamer Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

The sophomore left fielder extended his streak of reaching base to 14 games. Third baseman Jake Holtzapple got a pair of hits and two RBIs in three plate appearances, while preseason All-American Aaron Sabato got his second home run of the season on a sixth inning bomb that increased the UNC lead to 6-1. He went 1-for-4 on the day with two runs, two RBIs and a base on balls.

UNC starting pitcher Caden O’Brien tossed a strong trio of innings to begin the game. He struck out five, walked just two and didn’t allow an earned run. It was Davis Palermo, though, that came in the game in relief of O’Brien and got the victory, despite allowing a pair of runs in his three innings pitched. Four other UNC relievers combined to allow just two hits while striking out five, and keeping the Rams off the scoreboard for the game’s final three innings.

VCU accumulated just four hits on the day, left five runners on base and stuck out 14 times. Starter Justin Sorokowski gave up two runs on five hits in four innings. Relievers Jaden Griffin and Evan Chenier combined to give up six runs on six hits and four walks. VCU fell to 8-4 with the loss.

The 10-4 Tar Heels will get a day off before they begin a three-game weekend series with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Stick with Keeping It Heel for complete coverage of the three-game set, and everything UNC baseball.