The #18 Heels went 2-2 in their four home games last week. Carolina dominated Appalachian State 9-0, lost two close games to #10 Miami by a score of 4-3 and then pounded the Hurricanes on Sunday 10-3. The Heel's starting pitching allowed only three earned runs the entire week, but the bullpen and errors keep costing Carolina.
The week in review:
Appalachian State (9-0W Tuesday):
Carolina submitted what might have been its best performance of the season in a romp over Appalachian State. The Heels allowed only three hits as starter Hunter Williams went six innings, striking out six. The bullpen came in and struck out five more batters and allowed only one hit. The offense played well all game, submitting a balanced scoring effort. Carolina collected 12 hits on the day and committed no errors, a very encouraging sign for the Heels going forward. Skye Bolt hit his fourth home run of the year in this game and collected three RBIs in the game to lead the Heels.
Miami Game One (4-3L Friday):
Trent Thornton blew a save for the Heels, allowing three runs in the top of the ninth. Zac Gallen submitted an excellent effort as the game's starter, throwing seven innings, allowing only four hits and one run while striking out eight. Korey Dunbar had given the Heels a two run lead in the bottom of the seventh with a two run shot for his third home run of the year. Tyler Ramirez got on second in the bottom of the ninth but no Heels were able to get him home to tie the game. Ramirez led the Heels with two hits in four plate appearances. Dunbar's home run was his third in five games, and he figures to feature more for the Heels in the near future.
Miami Game Two (4-3L in 11 innings Saturday):
Carolina played clutch baseball for two consecutive innings before falling in 11 innings to the Hurricanes. The bullpen allowed three of the four runs, one in each of the last three innings. Freshman J.B. Bukauskas threw six scoreless innings before allowing one run in the seventh, his last inning of work. Bukauskas still threw seven complete innings on only a very efficient 86 pitches. Landon Lassiter had four hits in five plate appearances, having two more hits than any other Tar Heel. Carolina had eleven hits but the Miami pitching staff pitched well and Carolina left sixteen runners on in the loss. The outing lowered Bukauskas' ERA to 2.77.
Miami Game Three (10-3W Sunday):
Carolina came out of the gate hot on Sunday, scoring 9 runs in the first three innings en route to their win. Carolina starter Benton Moss threw six innings and allowed only one earned run. The Heels did commit and error in the field which allowed two more Miami runs to score. Zack Gahagan had four RBIs to lead the Heels and every starter had a hit. With the win, Moss improved his record to 4-0 on the season.
Notes from the Week:
The Heels' starting pitching staff continues to impress, allowing only three earned runs all week against a very potent Miami team.
The defense and bullpen need to improve behind the Heels. The bullpen allowed four runs this week and the defense allowed two more due to errors.
Carolina has added nice amounts of power in recent weeks to boost the offense, this has been encouraging for the Heels and if it continues in the ACC season, the Heels might have their fortunes perk up.
Carolina plays four games away from home this week, at Elon and then a weekend series at Clemson.