BY UNC ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
CHAPEL HILL --- Johnny Piedmonte worked five scoreless innings of relief to lift NC State to a 4-2 win over No. 4 North Carolina in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. Josh Hiatt struck out six in a career-long 4.2 innings of relief for the Tar Heels, who had their 11-game winning streak snapped.
Brock Deatherage homered off Austin Bergner (3-2) to open the scoring in the third, and the Wolfpack (20-17, 8-10 ACC) added one in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
Carolina (29-7, 14-4 ACC) quickly cut the lead in half on Brian Miller's two-run single off NC State starter Michael Bienlien in the bottom of the fifth. But Piedmonte got Logan Warmoth to line into a double play before striking out Ashton McGee to end the threat.
The Tar Heels rallied again in the sixth, loading the bases with just one out, but Piedmonte again worked out of trouble. The fifth-year senior right-hander limited Carolina to just a pair of singles by Warmoth and Cody Roberts over the final three innings to help NCSU salvage the series finale.
Stephen Pitarra and Will Wilson joined Deatherage with two hits each as the Wolfpack out-hit Carolina 9-8.
Despite the loss, the Tar Heels have won six straight ACC series to open league play for the first time since the 2013 club claimed its first seven. Carolina will wrap up a short four-game homestand Tuesday at 6:00 pm against Liberty.
Box Score (PDF) | GoHeels Photo Album
CHAPEL HILL --- Johnny Piedmonte worked five scoreless innings of relief to lift NC State to a 4-2 win over No. 4 North Carolina in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. Josh Hiatt struck out six in a career-long 4.2 innings of relief for the Tar Heels, who had their 11-game winning streak snapped.
Brock Deatherage homered off Austin Bergner (3-2) to open the scoring in the third, and the Wolfpack (20-17, 8-10 ACC) added one in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
Carolina (29-7, 14-4 ACC) quickly cut the lead in half on Brian Miller's two-run single off NC State starter Michael Bienlien in the bottom of the fifth. But Piedmonte got Logan Warmoth to line into a double play before striking out Ashton McGee to end the threat.
The Tar Heels rallied again in the sixth, loading the bases with just one out, but Piedmonte again worked out of trouble. The fifth-year senior right-hander limited Carolina to just a pair of singles by Warmoth and Cody Roberts over the final three innings to help NCSU salvage the series finale.
Stephen Pitarra and Will Wilson joined Deatherage with two hits each as the Wolfpack out-hit Carolina 9-8.
Despite the loss, the Tar Heels have won six straight ACC series to open league play for the first time since the 2013 club claimed its first seven. Carolina will wrap up a short four-game homestand Tuesday at 6:00 pm against Liberty.
Box Score (PDF) | GoHeels Photo Album
