UNC Baseball beats NC State 9-6 behind Horvath’s monster day

The UNC baseball team (27-25, 18-18 ACC) defeated rival NC State in the ACC tournament 9-6 Friday evening as the bats caught fire behind a six-run inning to fend off the Wolfpack.

Entering Friday’s contest needing a win, North Carolina did so in an offensive explosion under the lights in a packed Truist Field.

In the top of the first UNC loaded the bases on a double, HBP, and a walk. With a single from Danny Serretti UNC took the lead 1-0. Mac Horvath stepped in the box, he took the first pitch, then he belted the next over the left field wall for a grand slam as the Tar Heel lead grew to 5-0. But UNC tormented the Wolfpack more, as they loaded the bases again and scored their sixth run on a wild pitch.

UNC assaulted NC State pitching more as they led off the top of the second with a walk and a single that put runners on the corners. Horvath singled in another run, his fifth RBI of the game, as North Carolina extended their lead to 7-0. A fielder’s choice put runners at the corners again with one out before Tomas Frick doubled in the eighth run for UNC as the lead ballooned to 8-0.

Austin Love, who started for UNC on the mound, cruised through the bottom of the second as he struck out the side to register five K’s.

The Wolfpack rallied in the bottom of the third as they hit two singles that put runners on first and third  before a fielder’s choice gave NC State their first run. With a double and two walks, NC State added another before a single cut further into the lead as the score was 8-3.

In the top of the fourth, North Carolina added another run as Horvath collected his sixth RBI on a one-out sac fly that pushed the lead to 9-3.

NC State responded in the bottom of the fourth as a two-out single drove in a run, and made it a 9-4 game.

From there both pitching staffs settled into a groove as neither team scored until the bottom of the eighth. The Wolfpack led off that inning with two singles, a groundout moved those runners up to second and third. The proceeding batter singled in one run, and the next doubled in another that made it 9-6 as NC State got within striking distance. Caden O’Brien came in relief and struck out the next two batters to end the rally.

O’ Brien pitched the bottom of the ninth where he surrendered a leadoff single but finished the inning strong as he recorded a strikeout, got a fielder’s choice, and punched out the last batter.

The Tar Heel offense collected 10 hits en route to the victory, thanks in large part to the huge first inning where they compiled four hits and six runs as they brought 11 men to the plate. Three Tar Heels had multi-hit games as Frick went 3-for-4, Serretti a remarkable 4-for-5 and Horvath with a 2-for-3 day.

As per usual, Love tossed another solid outing with 5.2 innings pitched, four earned runs, four walks and nine strikeouts— he earned his eighth win of the season.

The Tar Heels find themselves in a predicament as a 1-1 record over the ACC Tournament does not guarantee a selection. With the Tar Heels possessing a losing record against Pittsburgh and NC State, it does not make their case any better. Ultimately, the fate of UNC baseball hinges on the NCAA Baseball Selection set for Monday at noon, which will air on ESPN2.

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