Casey Cook and Alex Madera collected two hits for the Tar Heels (32-10, 16-6 ACC), who won their third straight game after suffering their first three-game losing streak of the year a week ago. Madera drove in two runs, while Harber and Gavin Gallaher scored two.
DeCaro (3-1) struck out a career-high eight and walked two, lowering his ERA from 4.41 to 3.86. It was the fourth time he had taken a game into the seventh inning, but the first time he completed the frame.
“Some guys tease me about that; can’t get past 6 1/3,” DeCaro said. “It felt good afterwards, and going back out there for the eighth was big. It was a nod of confidence from the coaches to let me go out there and go after guys. It didn’t end the way I wanted, but overall, it awesome felt.”
Anthony Donofrio lifted a fly ball into left field that landed just beyond the reach of the diving left fielder Chris Cannizzaro for a lead-off triple. Vance Honeycutt fouled out to right, but Eddie Micheletti dropped the ball trying to get it out of his glove, and Donofrio scored.
Honeycutt drew a one-out walk and Cook singled ahead of Harber in the third. The Georgia transfer unleashed a towering 416-foot blast over the left field netting for his 15th home run of the season.
Jeremey Neff (0-1) gave up six runs – all earned – six hits and issued one walk in three innings.
Gallaher singled to start the fourth and scored on Madera’s triple to left. Colby Wilkerson drove Madera home with a bloop single to center to give Carolina a 6-0 lead.
Madera drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth to drive in his second run.
In the seventh, Gallaher went from first to third on a wild pitch and scampered home when Gehrig Ebel’s throw to third bounced down the left field line, putting UNC ahead 8-0.
“We played complete, but it’ll be really hard tomorrow,” UNC head coach Scott Forbes he said. “They’re throwing their ace tomorrow. I’ve preached about being process-oriented this year more than ever. I believe it works. Outcomes can be distractions if you let them.
“Understanding how to be here today helps us.”
Carson DeMartini homered for Virginia Tech (26-13, 12-20) in the ninth.
UNC LHP Shea Sprague (2-1, 3.71 ERA) will start Saturday’s game against the Hokies’ RHP Brett Renfrow (5-1, 3.50 ERA). the game is scheduled for 2 pm
Follow the Diamond Heels
For the latest information on the UNC baseball team, check out GoHeels.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Fans can also receive updates on UNC Athletics by downloading the GoHeels App from both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
