North Carolina took the lead in the bottom of the third inning from Hokie starter Brett Renfroe. After Honeycutt hit a double over the center field wall, redshirt sophomore Casey Cook hit a two-run homer over the right field wall.
The Tar Heels scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 5-1. Senior first baseman Parks Haber led off the first inning with a single, and freshman catcher Luke Stephenson hit a double into the right field corner. Graduate second baseman Alex Madera singled to Harbor's bat, and freshman third baseman Gavin Gallaher singled to Stevenson. Madera then scored its third point on target on a great sacrifice bunt from senior shortstop Colby Wilkerson.
After a not-so-easy opening frame, Sprague settled in, giving UNC six and two-thirds of a great inning. He left in high spirits to a standing ovation. Sprague allowed only one earned run on four hits and struck out six for the Hokies. His ERA this season was 3.40.
“I thought he fit in pretty well,” Forbes said. “He wasn't as sharp as he used to be. But he was tough and made his pitches when he needed to.”
UNC scored another run in the bottom of the seventh inning on Haber's sacrifice fly. Sophomore right-hander Matthew Matigis came in in relief of Sprague. In the top of the 8th inning, Christian Martin hit a two-run home run, making the game 6-3.
North Carolina held on, although redshirt sophomore Dalton Pence appeared with a double in the ninth inning to seal the game and earn a save.
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Game 3 of the Tar Heels-Hokies series will be played Sunday at 1 p.m.
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