CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Interstat) — Southern California defeated North Carolina 9-5 on Friday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium, overcoming a four-run deficit with a five-run sixth inning powered by Dean Carpentier’s grand slam.

The Trojans improved to 48-16, while the Tar Heels fell to 48-12-1.

Carpentier finished 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. Andrew Lamb also homered, going 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Kevin Takeuchi went 3 for 4 with an RBI and three runs scored. On the mound, Andrew Johnson earned the win with 3⅔ innings of relief, allowing zero hits and striking out two.

North Carolina starter Ryan Lynch struck out seven over 5⅔ innings but allowed four earned runs on six hits and was charged with the loss. Jackson Rose pitched 2⅔ hitless innings in relief, striking out four.

The Tar Heels struck first in the second inning. After a walk and a wild pitch, Sam Schaffner singled in a run and Brendan Gallaher followed with a sacrifice fly, making it 2-0. In the third, North Carolina added two more. A walk to Luke Winslow and a double by Matthew Paulsen brought in one run, and a throwing error by USC pitcher Mason Edwards allowed Paulsen to score unearned, pushing the lead to 4-1.

Southern California had cut the deficit to 4-1 on Lamb’s solo home run in the third inning, his 13th of the season.

The Tar Heels extended the lead to 5-1 in the fifth. Paulsen singled and later scored on a double by Colin Hynek.

The game turned in the top of the sixth. With one out, the Trojans loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. Carpentier then drove a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for a grand slam, his fourth homer of the season, giving Southern California a 6-5 lead.

Southern California added three more runs in the seventh. After a double and a single, Kevin Takeuchi walked to load the bases. A groundout by Cadena scored one, a fielder’s choice by Basser drove in another, and Lamb’s sacrifice bunt brought home Takeuchi for a 9-5 advantage.

Johnson entered in the bottom of the sixth and retired 11 of the 12 batters he faced, allowing only a ninth-inning single and a two-out single in the ninth before Winslow flied out to end the game.

North Carolina threatened early but could not capitalize. In the first inning, the Tar Heels loaded the bases with one out on a walk, single, and another walk, but three consecutive strikeouts ended the frame.

USC’s bullpen combined for six innings of one-run relief after starter Edwards allowed four runs—three earned—in three innings.

The victory snapped North Carolina’s two-game winning streak and evened the season series with the Trojans, who will host the Tar Heels on Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-6 North Carolina win. The Tar Heels were installed as pregame favorites with a spread of minus-1.5, and Interstat’s ELO system gave North Carolina a 69.7 percent probability to win.