Yesterday there were three match ups featuring an ACC team that caught my eye and would be the “worth watching” games … so to speak.
No. 7 UCLA and no. 17 North Carolina traveled to the great state of Florida to play the three game series that had been previously cancelled due to snow at North Carolinas baseball field. Instead, they will play three at Jay Bergman Field the home of UCF baseball and give the people what they want.
The no. 7 Bruins took game one over the no. 17 Tar Heels by a score of 8-6 at Jay Bergman Field in Orlando. The Bruins remain unbeaten and push their record to 5-0 on the season.
Junior James Kaprielian (2-0) earned his second win, going six innings, allowing four runs and striking out seven batters. Spencer Trayner (1-1) received his first loss of the year after getting knocked around for three runs over two-thirds of an inning of work.
Pacing the Bruin offense was sophomore Brett Stephens as he reached base four times and scored three runs and sophomore Luke Persico collected three hits and knocked in two RBI.
Final Score: UCLA 8 UNC 6
WP: Kaprielian (2-0)
LP: Trayner (1-1)
A true test for both teams would take place Friday night as the no. 9 Miami Hurricanes traveled to Gainesville to take on the no. 2 Florida Gators in the first game of a three game series.
Sophomore Buddy Reed won the game on a two-out single in he bottom of the ninth to score Josh Tobias from second base and secure the 4-3 victory. Junior Taylor Lewis (1-0) picked up his first win as a Gator when he closed the door on the Hurricane 8th and went 1,2,3 in the 9th inning before Reed knocked in the game winner.
Other notable offensive performances for the Gators come from junior Richie Martin who went 1-for-3 with two run scored and the en fuego Harrison Bader was 1-for3 with a single and hit by pitch.
Final Score: Florida 4 Miami (Fl.) 3
WP: Lewis (1-0)
LP: Mediavilla (0-1)
Arkansas State (3-1) was able to get to starting pitcher Kyle Funkhouser and knock off the no. 10 Louisville Cardinals (2-2) 8-2 Friday afternoon in snowy Emerson, Georgia at the Perfect Game Park South Complex.
Arkansas State was able to jump on Funkhouser early by getting the first three batters on base and setting up a one run first inning. Austin Baker, Zach George and Joe Schrimpf each collected two hits apiece and six of Arkansas States 10 total hits. Baker and Schrimpf also accounted for 4 of the 7 total RBI collected by the Arkansas State offense.
Final Score: Arkansas State 8 Louisville 2
WP: David Owen (1-1)
LP: Kyle Funkhouser (1-1)
