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UNC Baseball: Busch records first game winning hit

By Jordan Falls

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 07: Michael Busch #83 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on May 07, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 07: Michael Busch #83 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat during a game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on May 07, 2023 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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How about another update on former UNC baseball standout Michael Busch? The former Tar Heel recorded his first game-winning hit over the weekend.

Former UNC baseball infielder Michael Busch is slowly earning a good reputation around the major leagues. Just a week ago he made a huge impact in a Los Angeles Dodgers win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Now, after a couple of days off, he was able to give the Dodgers a spark to help propel them to a win over their division rival, San Diego in extra innings.

The Dodgers were on the road visiting the Padres in the final game of a three-game series. After splitting the series’ first two games, the rubber match was on Sunday night.

Busch didn’t start in any of the games versus San Diego. Instead, the Dodgers pinch-hit Busch in the eighth inning trailing 2-1 with runners on 1st and 2nd and nobody out. Unfortunately, Busch struck out looking.

After the Dodgers were down to their final out before Mookie Betts hit a solo home run to tie the game, Busch would get a chance at redemption in extra innings. Busch was the third batter in the extra frame after the first two batters could not get hits.

Busch came to the plate with Freddie Freeman representing the go-ahead run 90 feet from home. Busch got behind in the count 1-2 but then was able to work into a 3-2 count prior to hitting a single to left field and driving in the go-ahead, and ultimately game-winning, run.

Busch has seen 19 total at-bats in seven games for the Dodgers. He is batting 0.211 and has two RBIs. We hope that the Dodgers will continue to give Busch opportunities as he continues to come in clutch when they need a hit most. It will be interesting to see if the Dodgers continue to try to use Busch as a utility player and move him around the infield, or if they keep him at one position (or stick with him as a DH for now).

Next. UNC Baseball: Matt Harvey Retires from Baseball. dark

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