North Carolina got what it needed Tuesday from starting pitcher Trent Thornton and clean-up hitter Brian Holberton as the Tar Heels stayed alive in the NCAA College World Series with a 4-2 victory over LSU.

Thornton, a freshman, threw 114 pitches, allowing just two runs over seven innings, while Holberton provided the power with a two-run homer over the right-center field fence in the top of the first inning.

“I thought the home run by Brian was really crucial for us,” UNC coach Mike Fox said. “It just kind of let the air out a little bit and let us play with a lead, something we haven’t seemed to have done in a while.”

Fox changed the batting order around, with Holberton moving to the No. 4 slot. “It made the move look good but it wasn’t me,” Fox said. “Brian’s been in that position before, and we felt we needed to move some things around a little bit.”

Fox said Holberton does a lot more than just provide power. “He can hit and he can bunt and he can do a lot of things for us,” he said.

In fact, Holberton did bunt in the seventh inning, sacrificing Colin Moran to second. Skye Bolt singled in Moran to give the Heels an important 4-1 cushion.

Thornton did the rest, along with an assist from reliever Chris McCue.

For the rest of the article, please click here.