Where: Boshamer Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
When: Sunday, June 3rd, 1:00 PM
Radio/Internet: CBS ULive: Video
Records: UNC 45-15, ECU 36-23-1
Elimination game.
UNC faces the first of what it hopes is three elimination games with the first coming versus cross-state rival East Carolina. The Heels will send freshman Benton Moss to the mound in hopes of surviving to get St. John's in a 6 PM rematch to force a decisive Monday night game in the Chapel Hill Regional.
While only 22% of the last 80 teams to enter the loser's bracket have actually advanced to the Super Regional, UNC does has one of the deeper pitching staffs in the country. However in the interest of survival, UNC's best bet is a huge day from Moss to keep the bullpen fresh. That means a solid effort from a freshman being thrust in the NCAA Tournament spotlight for the first time. It also means UNC needs to put runs on the scoreboard in copious amounts.
Yesterday the ACC had three teams lose on walk-off hits. Clemson lost to South Carolina in 12 innings. UNC fell to St. John's and NC State was leading 8-4 in the 8th when a third strike for what should have been the third out went past the catcher keeping Vanderbilt alive. The Commodores tied the game in the 8th then won it on a walk-off single in the 9th. It was a black, black day for ACC baseball. Hopefully as epic as yesterday was in terms of being a complete disaster the polar opposite will be true today.