BY UNC ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
CHAPEL HILL --- Zac Gallen allowed just three hits in his second complete game in as many home starts as No. 18 North Carolina topped Boston College 1-0 Friday night at Boshamer Stadium. Logan Warmoth's bases-loaded walk against BC starter Mike King in the second inning produced the lone run of the game as both pitchers dominated on a cool evening. Joe Dudek made a diving stop and beat Donovan Casey to the bag at first for the final out as Carolina improved to 27-15 and 11-10 in the ACC.
The sophomore right-hander improved to 3-3 thanks to his first career shutout and perhaps UNC's finest defensive performance of the year. In addition to Dudek's game-saving play, Skye Bolt had a diving catch to rob Logan Hoggarth of extra bases in the fifth and Warmoth threw out Scott Braren at home in the sixth.
Boston College (22-19, 9-12 ACC) had its best scoring chance of the night in the final inning. Gallen struck out Johnny Adams to start the frame before walking Jake Palomaki and allowing Blake Butera's single to left. That was just the third hit of the night for the Eagles, but after a Joe Cronin fly to right, BC loaded the bases on a Michael Strem walk.
Casey's line drive looked destined for right field, but Dudek made a lunging backhand play and recovered to beat the BC right fielder to the bag.
King (1-3) was the hard-luck loser after limiting the Tar Heels to just five hits over eight innings. The sophomore struck out five and allowed just two runners past second all night.
Tyler Ramirez singled and stole second to start the UNC second before Dudek walked and Elijah Sutherland reached on an infield hit. After striking out Zack Gahagan, King missed the strike zone on four straight pitches to Warmoth to force in the lone run of the game.
Saturday's game, which was originally scheduled for 6 p.m., will begin at 10:30 a.m. because of forecasted rain later in the day.