ELON, N.C. – A pair of four-run innings propelled the sixth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heel baseball team to an 11-6 victory over the visiting Elon Phoenix on Wednesday night at Boshamer Stadium.
Travis Docimo drove in three runs for Elon, while Tyler McVicar was 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Elon (8-9).
Adam Pate went 3-for-5 and drove home three for North Carolina (14-2).
Elon starter Sean Byrnes (1-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work.
UNC reliever Brett Daniels (1-0) earned the win after 2.2 scoreless innings. Taylor Sugg was perfect for the final 3.0 innings to pick up his first save of the year.
How It Happened: After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Elon scored twice on a Docimo double to grab a 2-1 lead only to see the Tar Heels answer with four in the bottom of the second. The last of the second began with a bunt single and a walk before a one-out double from Brandon Riley made it a 3-2 contest. UNC would add two more on RBI singles from Cody Roberts and Pate.
North Carolina extended its lead with a four-run fourth to make it 9-2 before Elon closed the gap with four in the sixth. That inning began with a walk and singles from McVicar and Austin Leeney to load the bases. Brett Guba, Ryne Ogren and Docimo all followed with walks to pull the Phoenix within four at 9-5. Kory Shumate’s bloop single down the left field line added one more as Elon ended the at bat down three, 9-6.
The Heels would tack on a pair in the last of the sixth to complete the scoring.
Notes: Kyle Jackson went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.
On Deck: Elon will open up CAA play by hosting William & Mary for three games this weekend. The series is scheduled to begin with a 4 p.m. first pitch on Friday, March 18.