Castagnozzi Helps Heels Put Irish Away

CHARLOTTE, NC – Sophomore Infielder Johnny Castagnozzi drove in two runs at the top of the ninth, as the North Carolina Tar Heels (36-19 overall, 15-15 ACC) defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (35-14 overall and 16-11 ACC), by the score of 7-2, to advance to the finals where they face either NC State or Pittsburgh at Truist Field.

Castagnozzi’s two-run RBI was the highlight of the game.

North Carolina’s victory this afternoon makes it their 13th trip to the ACC Championship to try and win their eighth ACC Championship.

UNC scored first at the top of the second inning, when Senior Second Baseman Mikey Midej (Shorewood, IL), scored on a run, to help the Heels take a 1-0 lead.

During the bottom of the third, Junior Pitcher Jack Brannigan hit a home run, that tied the game at one apiece. Afterward, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Senior Infielder Carter Putz drilled a homer, to help the Irish take a 2-1 lead.

The Tar Heels battled back, as Hunter Stokely drove in an RBI scored by Madej, as they tied it at two apiece at the top of the sixth inning. Afterward, the Tar Heels went on a tear, thanks to Danny Serretti’s two-run RBI, right after Mac Horvath’s RBI single into left field, that had UNC up by the score of 5-2 at the conclusion of the sixth inning. Johnny Castagnozzi’s insurance runs came at the top of the ninth, as UNC led by the score of 7-2, which would ultimately become the final score.

For the Tar Heels, Shawn Rapp (4-0) picked up the victory, in relief. Rapp allowed no hits nor runs, while not recording any errors. Rapp recorded a strikeout. For Notre Dame, Aiden Tyrell (5-1) took the loss, while Davis Palmero saved the game for North Carolina, his fifth for the season.

Sophomore Pitcher Will Sandy (Raleigh, NC) started for the Tar Heels. Sandy pitched 2.1 innings, while allowing two hits and one run, committing a single error and recording a strikeout. After Sandy, the Senior Sage Gillian came in relief, pitching 2.2 innings. The Spring Hill, TN native allowed four hits and one run while committing a single error and recording three strikeouts. Following Gillian, Junior Nik Pry (Pinehurst, NC) pitched for 0.1 innings, not recording any errors, hits, strikeouts, or runs. After, Pry, Rapp came in and recorded the victory. Then, Palermo came in relief and saved the day for the Tar Heels, recording one hit and one walk, while not allowing any runs or errors.

For Notre Dame, Graduate Student Austin Temple got the start. The Palm City, FL native pitched for four innings, allowed six hits and one run while recording one error and two walks. Then, Senior Alex Rao (Hobe Sound, FL) came in relief, pitching three innings, allowing two hits, and committing one error. Rao recorded one walk and two strikeouts. Following Rao, Senior Aidan Tyrell out of Joliet, IL, pitched for 0.0 innings, recording one run, three hits, and one walk. After Tyrell, the Irish rounded out with Sophomore Jackson Dennies (River Ridge, LA – 0.1 innings pitched with one strikeout), Senior Will Mercer (Houston, TX – 0.1 innings pitched with two hits and one strikeout), Freshman Radek Birkholz (Highlands Ranch, CO – 0.1 innings pitched with one hit allowed with two hits and errors each) and finally, Freshman Jack Findlay from Ledgewood, NJ closing out the Irish by pitching one inning and allowing one hit and recording two strikeouts.

North Carolina will face the winner between NC State and Pittsburgh for the Championship Game tomorrow on ESPN2. It will be televised at Noon.