CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- After jumping out to a 10-0 lead, the Davidson baseball team held on for a 12-11 upset win against No. 18 North Carolina, snapping a 27-game winless streak against the Tar Heels on Tuesday night at Boshamer Stadium.
The Wildcats were up 12-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but the Tar Heels got hot scoring three runs with no outs. Davidson found itself in a jam when UNC strung together singles and drew a walk before another Tar Heel hit made it a one-run ballgame.
With two outs and two on, the 11th batter in the inning, Logan Warmoth, drove a ball that looked like it could reach the left field fence for the win, but senior Ty Middlebrooks was there to make a one-handed catch that held off the nationally-ranked Tar Heels.
The win marks the first time since April 2, 1987 that the Wildcats defeated UNC and the first victory in Chapel Hill since '72. Davidson's 12 runs are the most scored against an ACC opponent since May 4, 2010 when it defeated Virginia Tech 14-10 in Blacksburg.
Winning its last three contests, the Wildcats improved to 10-5 on the season, while North Carolina fell to 12-8 overall.
In the first inning, David Daniels singled to right field scoring DH Ryan Lowe, who reached on a misplayed fly ball by the center fielder. After Lee Miller doubled down the left-field line, second baseman Sam Foy gave the Cats a 2-0 lead with a sac fly.
The top of the third was a huge inning for Davidson as it picked up five runs off four hits. Miller laced his second double of the day plating Lowe and Ben Arkin, who walked and reached on an infield single, respectively. Shortstop Alec Acostacapped off the scoring for Davidson with a three-run double to right field that increased the Wildcat lead to seven.
Davidson kept things going in the fourth when it tallied three more runs, highlighted by Daniels two-run homer, off five hits to take a 10-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. Miller also had a hit in the inning, another double.
North Carolina recorded single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, before combining for nine runs in its final three at bats.
Overall, Davidson scored its 12 runs off 13 hits with just one error, while the Tar Heels scattered 16 hits and committed two errors. Daniels led the Wildcats going 3-for-4 with three runs and four RBI, while three other Wildcats had multiple hits, including Acosta with a two-hit, four-RBI performance.
On the mound, freshman Evan Roberts picked up the win for Davidson as he pitched 2.2 innings, allowing four hits, two runs, while facing 13 batters. Lowe started the day for the Wildcats and only allowed two hits, while striking out two in two innings. Four other Wildcats threw on the day.
AJ Bogucki took the loss for the Tar Heels, allowing three hits, four runs, two of them earned, in two innings.
