BY UNC ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
CHAPEL HILL --- J.B. Bukauskas got all the support he needed in the form of a Zack Gahagan three-run homer as No. 10 North Carolina opened ACC play with a resounding 9-4 win over No. 7 Virginia Friday at Boshamer Stadium. Bukauskas struck out seven and allowed just one run over six innings for the Tar Heels, who won their conference opener for the eighth straight season.
Carolina (11-3, 1-0 ACC) pounded out a season-high 13 hits, including three from Kyle Datres and two each from Logan Warmoth, Ashton McGee and Brandon Riley. But the big blow on the day was Gahagan's second round-tripper of the season, a towering shot to left that broke a 1-1 tie in the third.
The Tar Heels added five more in the fifth to salt the game away. Datres and Riley had two-RBI singles in the frame against UVA starter Daniel Lynch, who surrendered nine runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings to suffer his first loss of the season.
Meanwhile, Bukauskas (2-0) continued to flash the stuff that earned him consensus preseason first-team All-America honors. Andy Weber's solo homer in the third was one of just three hits against the right-hander, who upped his season strikeout total to 37 against a mere five walks.
Rodney Hutchison Jr., Zach Attianese and Brett Daniels combined to work the final three innings ahead of Saturday's series-ending doubleheader. Game one of the twin bill is set for a noon start, with game two to follow. All tickets for Saturday or Sunday will be valid for both contests.
Box Score (PDF) | GoHeels Photo Album | GoHeels Photo Album II | Bukauskas Postgame Audio
