CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 11 North Carolina scored three runs in the first inning and extended its lead to 6-0 after four to spark a 6-1 win over Gardner-Webb Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium.
The loss was the sixth in a row for Gardner-Webb (10-7), which hasn't scored more than two runs in any of its four road dates so far in 2015.
Gardner-Webb led off the game with back-to-back singles from Henry Rundio and Ryan Hodge, but North Carolina went to the bullpen after an injury to starter Brett Daniels with one out, and relief ace Trevor Kelley came on to get out of the jam with no runs allowed.
The Tar Heels took control of the scoreboard quickly, getting a leadoff single from Adam Pate and a two-run home run off the bat of Tyler Ramirez for a quick 2-0 lead. Skye Bolt drove in a run three batters later for a 3-0 edge.
Carolina added a run in the third and two more in the fourth and saw Kelley work 3.2 innings without allowing a hit to keep Gardner-Webb's bats at bay. Jason Morgan came on to finish the game for the Tar Heels, hurling 5.0 innings and allowing just one run on five hits.
Gardner-Webb got on the board in the sixth, getting a one-out single from Hodge and an RBI knock to right center from Sam Fulginiti to trim the lead to 6-1.
The 'Dogs got singles in the seventh, eighth and ninth but could not mount a more serious threat the rest of the way.
Beau Hilton (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work – his first start of the season. Bradley Hallman, Mitch Warner, Brad Haymes and Andrew Massey each worked an inning of scoreless relief for GWU, with Hallman also closing out the fourth frame.
Hodge went 3-for-4 to account for nearly half of Gardner-Webb's seven hits on Wednesday.
Kelley (2-0) got the win for North Carolina and Morgan collected his first save of the season.
The Tar Heels collected 11 hits in the game, with Ramirez (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI), Zack Gahagan (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Bolt (2-for-4, RBI) and Korey Dunbar (2-for-4, run) each collecting two of those knocks.
Gardner-Webb will open Big South Conference play on Friday, traveling to face Presbyterian (13-4) at 3:00 pm in Clinton, S.C.
