CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — The North Carolina Tar Heels used a dominant pitching performance and a late offensive explosion to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks 9-1 in nonconference baseball action Tuesday night.

The Tar Heels, ranked among the nation’s elite with a record of 21-4-1, showcased their depth and power, while the Gamecocks fell to .500 at 13-13.

South Carolina struck first in the opening inning. Leadoff hitter Bak flied out, and Craddock struck out, but Scobey worked a walk. LeCroy followed with a single down the right field line, moving Scobey to third. Randolph then delivered a two-out single to shallow left field, scoring Scobey for an early 1-0 lead.

The advantage was short-lived. North Carolina answered immediately in the bottom of the first against South Carolina starter Connor Chicoli. Schaffner led off with a bunt single, and second baseman Gavin Gallaher launched a two-run homer to deep left field, his fifth of the season, to put the Tar Heels ahead 2-1.

From that point, the game became a pitcher’s duel, largely due to a stellar relief outing from North Carolina’s Walker McDuffie. After starter Boston Flannery worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts, McDuffie entered with one out in the fourth. He was nearly untouchable, firing 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball while striking out seven Gamecocks batters. His overpowering performance stifled any South Carolina momentum and earned him recognition as the top star for the Tar Heels.

South Carolina reliever Logan Prisco was equally effective for a stretch, keeping his team in the game. He entered in the second inning and provided 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits and striking out five. His work held the deficit at 2-1 into the middle innings.

The most important part of the game arrived in the bottom of the seventh inning, when North Carolina broke the game open. Leading 3-1 after Hull scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, the Tar Heels sent 13 men to the plate in the seventh, scoring six runs on five hits while capitalizing on wild pitches and a passed ball. The inning featured an RBI bunt single by Owen Hull, a run-scoring double from Hynek, an RBI single by Howe, and a sacrifice fly from Schaffner. The offensive barrage turned a tight contest into a commanding 9-1 lead.

North Carolina’s bullpen closed the door from there. Jackson Rose and Cameron Padgett combined for three perfect innings of relief, with Padgett striking out two over the final two frames. South Carolina managed only five hits total, with Randolph collecting two singles and an RBI.

Owen Hull led the Tar Heels’ 10-hit attack, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Gallaher finished 2 for 4 with his pivotal two-run homer.

The Gamecocks continue their road swing with a Southeastern Conference series at Georgia starting Friday. The Tar Heels hit the road for an Atlantic Coast Conference series at Notre Dame, also beginning Friday.