FLORENCE, S.C. -- Lou Distasio tossed six shutout innings and Rhode Island salvaged the final game of the series for its first win of the year 6-3 against No. 14 North Carolina at Francis Marion's Sparrow Stadium. Zac Gallen had a career-high nine strikeouts and allowed just one earned run in six, but took the hard-luck loss in his first start of 2015.
Rhode Island (1-5) scored four times in the ninth to build a much-needed cushion, as Carolina (6-3) scored twice and brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning before Tyler Barss got Brian Miller to ground back to the mound to end it.
Derek Gardella, Matt O'Neil and Jordan Powell had two hits apeice for the Rams, while Adrian Chacon had a pair for Carolina.
The Tar Heels return to action Monday at 5:30 when they visit Liberty in a non-conference affair.
