UNC Baseball picks up mid-week win with milestones

The UNC baseball team picked up a mid-week win over Gardner-Webb while some individuals earned a few milestones along the way.

The UNC baseball program was able to beat the Runnin’ Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb on Tuesday by a score of 5-4 at The Bosh. It wasn’t easy for the Diamond Heels, but some memorable achievements were picked up during the mid-week win.

Mac Horvath continued his amazing season at the plate with a two-run home run in the third inning that gave the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead. Horvath’s home run achieved an accomplishment only one other UNC baseball player has accomplished, and the runner was on base for his home run.

Horvath joined Vance Honeycutt as the only two UNC baseball players to accomplish a 20 home run, 20 stolen base season. After the Tar Heels scored two runs of their own to take a 2-0 lead, the Gardner-Webb offense answered with a three-run fourth inning with all three runs coming on solo home runs.

Horvath once again scored tying the game in the bottom of the sixth at three on a sacrifice squeeze bunt by Reece Holbrook. However, just like in the fourth inning, the Bulldogs answered the Tar Heels with another solo home run. This one was by Humberto Torres for his second home run of the day to give Gardner-Webb a 4-3 lead.

Perhaps Gardner-Webb poked the bear a little too hard at The Bosh by getting emotional after ending the seventh inning with a strikeout.

Following the “scuffle” between the two teams, the Diamond Heels struck out two batters in the eighth and only allowed one runner before retiring the side. In the bottom of the eighth with their next plate appearance and trailing 4-3, the dynamic tandem of Honeycutt and Horvath got things started once again.

Honeycutt singled and then Horvath doubled to put the tying run 90 feet from home. Honeycutt would eventually score on an error by the Bulldogs’ defense, Horvath would score on a balk for the go-ahead, and eventually, a game-winning run.

The UNC baseball pitching staff did their job in the ninth as Gardner-Webb went three up, three down to end the game. It was also head UNC baseball coach Scott Forbes’ 100th career victory as manager of the Diamond Heels.

The Tar Heels will welcome rival NC State to town on Thursday for a crucial, three-game ACC series and Senior Day. Games two and three of the series are already sold out so be sure to get your tickets for Thursday’s opening game if you want to see Carolina play NC State!

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