The Canes unleashed their offense, securing a victory by the 10-run rule to halt UNC’s 11-game winning streak.

Last week, Miami Hurricanes coach J.D. Arteaga urged his team to start games more aggressively. While the thrilling come-from-behind victories, like the memorable nine-run rally against then-No. 13 Virginia, were exciting, Arteaga recognized they weren’t ideal for keeping stress levels low. In response to his plea, Miami delivered a commanding performance on Friday, blasting three home runs in the first two innings and tallying 16 hits in just six innings at bat to secure a resounding 14-1 win over No. 15 North Carolina.

The Atlantic Coast Conference implemented a 10-run rule for this season, meaning the home team automatically wins after 6 1/2 innings if they hold a lead of at least 10 runs. Blake Cyr contributed significantly to Miami’s victory, launching a pair of two-run homers to left field in the opening innings, while Lorenzo Carrier added a solo shot between Cyr’s blasts. This performance not only pleased Arteaga but also ended UNC’s impressive 11-game winning streak. Additionally, behind a stellar pitching performance from starter Gage Ziehl, Miami halted a two-game losing streak to improve to 10-7 overall and 3-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Arteaga praised his team’s comprehensive effort, stating, “We put a complete game together. I told the team on Sunday we still hadn’t played a complete game, and when we do, we’re going to be a very good team. We showed today what we’re capable of doing against a very good North Carolina team. We swung the bats early, Gage was very efficient early on — a 5-pitch first inning and 9-pitch second inning — and we just set the tone.”

Cyr, who went 3 for 5 with four RBIs, emphasized the importance of early offensive production, expressing his satisfaction with the team’s ability to ignite their offense from the outset. Ziehl, who earned his first win of the season with a strong performance on the mound, echoed the sentiment of his teammates, highlighting the team’s collective effort and the positive impact of the early offensive surge.

Following the defeat, the Tar Heels’ record dropped to 16-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Starting pitcher Folger Boaz (2-1, 4.68 ERA) struggled, conceding eight runs on 10 hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings, resulting in the loss for North Carolina.

Miami Hurricanes entered the game ranked sixth nationally in home runs per game, averaging 2.3, and eighth in total home runs with 36. Even after Friday’s contest, freshman Daniel Cuvet maintained his lead in the team’s home run tally with nine, closely followed by Blake Cyr and Jason Torres, both with seven homers each.

Cyr, who earned consensus Freshman All-American honors in 2023, was awarded ACC Player of the Week on Monday following an impressive performance. He boasted a .500 batting average (8-for-16) with three home runs and 11 RBIs in the previous four games. Reflecting on the season, Cyr expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, stating, “I’m pleased with how we’re evolving as a team after every game, regardless of the outcome. We’re constantly learning and growing.”

Pitcher Gage Ziehl echoed Cyr’s sentiments, emphasizing the team’s commitment to learning from every game, whether they win or lose. Ziehl noted, “I agree with Blake. We’re continuously learning, regardless of the result. While there have been some tough losses, we need to move past them, extract lessons, and focus on the next game.”

The Hurricanes are set to face the Tar Heels again at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Left-handed junior Rafe Schlesinger will take the mound for the Canes, while right-handed freshman Jason Decaro will start for UNC.