Tar Heels Blast Seminoles in Game 2

CHAPEL HILL, NC – The North Carolina Tar Heels (33-19 overall and 14-15 ACC) took care of business in the bottom of the eighth inning, thanks to a four-run homer by Junior Shortstop Danny Serretti (Berkeley Heights, NJ), as they defeated the Florida State Seminoles (31-24 overall and 20-16 ACC) in front of 2,777 fans at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, NC.

North Carolina’s victory over Florida State essentially clinches the series, as they defeated them by the score of 7-5 on Thursday night’s game.

Serretti’s four-run homer for UNC was the highlight of the game, as it propelled the Tar Heels to a 10-4 victory. The other three individuals who recorded runs were Sophomore Third Baseman Marc Horvath (Rochester, MN), Redshirt Junior Angel Zarate (Reidsville, NC), and Sophomore Third Baseman Colby Wilkerson (Oxford, NC).

For Florida State, the starting pitcher was Redshirt Sophomore Parker Messick (Plant City, FL). Messick pitched six innings, where he recorded seven hits, four runs, three errors, and four strikeouts. In the process, he picked up the loss for the Seminoles. On the other hand for UNC, Junior Brandon Schaeffer (Auburn, PA) picked up the victory. Schaeffer pitched 6.2 innings while recording eight hits, three runs, three errors, and two strikeouts.

Florida State Redshirt Sophomore Designated Hitter Brett Roberts opened the game with two RBIs, as he drove in two runs scored by Freshman Rightfielder Jamie Ferrer (Bayamon, PR) and Redshirt Senior Leftfielder Isaiah Perry (Pembroke Pines, FL). Then, Carolina responded thanks to a two-run homer from Freshman Centerfielder Vance Honeycutt (Salisbury, NC), as Serretti scored. In the bottom of the second inning, Horvath recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly, where Wilkerson scored on a run. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Tar Heels scored, thanks to a homer from Sophomore Designated Hitter Alberto Osuna (Mauldin, SC). During the top of the seventh inning, Redshirt Senior First Baseman Brock Mathis (Fairfield, OH) scored a home run for Florida State, to alleviate UNC’s lead by a single run. However, the Tar Heels fought back, thanks to unearned runs by Horvath and Serretti, to make it 6-3 by the conclusion of the seventh inning. The eighth inning was when Florida State got within two, thanks to a run by Ferrer. During the bottom of the eighth, that’s when Serretti hits a four-run homer, to make the Heels lead by the score of 10-4, which was the final result.

The offensive stars were Danny Serretti, Colby Wilkerson, and Mac Horvath for UNC. On the other hand, Florida State had Jamie Ferrer.

The relief pitchers for Florida State were Sophomore Ross Dunn (Salt Lake City, UT). Dunn completed the game pitching for 1.1 innings, with two hits, four runs, and two errors. Also, Redshirt Sophomore Dylan Simmons (Jacksonville, FL – 0 innings pitched with one run, two hits, and two errors) and Sophomore Jackson Nezuh (St. Cloud, FL – 0.2 innings pitched with two strikeouts) relieved for Florida State. For UNC, the relievers were Junior Nik Pry (Pinehurst, NC – 0.1 innings pitched with one hit and one run), Sophomore Shawn Rapp (Mendham, NJ – one inning pitched with one strikeout), and Sophomore Davis Palermo (Chapel Hill, NC – one inning pitched with one strikeout).

The Tar Heels host Florida State again for the third and final time on Saturday, March 21 at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, NC, at 2 P.M.