Virginia was thisclose, twice, to finishing off a weekend series sweep at #7 North Carolina, which rallied in the ninth to force extras, then scored two in the 11th to salvage Game 3 of the series with an 8-7 win on Saturday night in Boshamer Stadium.
The ’Hoos (13-3, 2-1 ACC) rode to an easy 9-2 victory in Game 1 of a Saturday doubleheader, behind a stellar outing from starting pitcher Max Stammel (1-0, 3.24 ERA, 1.02 WHIP), who held the Tar Heels (13-3, 1-2 ACC) to a run on three hits, striking out four and walking one.
Sam Harris (.353 BA, 1.170 OPS, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs), Zach Jackson (.333 BA, 1.117 OPS, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs) and Noah Murray (.182 BA, .833 OPS, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs) each homered in the doubleheader, and Joe Tiroly (.306 BA, .808 OPS, 1 HR, 14 RBIs) was 5-for-10 at the plate, with two runs scored and two RBIs.
“I am just really proud of them,” first-year Virginia coach Chris Pollard said. “I said, I know that you’re tired, and you’re hungry. It has been a long week. We have been on the road for eight days with six road games, and I just wanted them to know that I am really proud of them. Going 4-2 on the road, going back to Sunday versus VCU. I think during the eight-game road trip, they have handled it really well, they have grown up a lot.”
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Chris Graham
