UNC Baseball Recaps - Week 9

The North Carolina Tar Heels took the final two games of the Virginia series to win their third conference series in a row and continue to be in the thick of the battle for the Coastal Division lead.

Here is a breakdown of UNC rankings in the major polls:

• D1Baseball.com Top 25: 15
• NCBWA: 18
• Baseball America: 19
• USA Today Coaches Poll: 17
• RPI: 11

These are the latest Diamond Heels results:

It was not an ideal start for UNC in the opener of the series versus Virginia. The Tar Heels left seven on base in the first six innings of the game, including five in scoring position. Virginia closer Andrew Abbott came in during the seventh and was perfect down the stretch, allowing no hits and no walks, while striking out five to preserve the UVA shutout. Carolina starter Tyler Baum received the loss against the Cavaliers, the first loss of the sophomore’s career.

The Carolina offense rebounded on Saturday. With the threat of rain Sunday, the final game of the series was moved to Saturday after game two. In the first inning of the first game, Brandon Riley and Ike Freeman drove in a run each. In the third with the score 2-1, Dallas Tessar nailed a solo shot. Freeman added another RBI single, and a Cody Roberts sac bunt put the UNC lead at 5-1. In the bottom of the sixth, UVA narrowed the lead to 5-3.

The eighth was a wild inning, and set up an exciting conclusion to the ball game. Carolina increased their lead to 6-3 off a Clemente Inclan sac fly. In the bottom half of the inning, Josh Hiatt came in to relieve starter Austin Bergner. Hiatt struggled, giving up three runs and allowing UVA to tie the game.

In the ninth, Kyle Datres scored from second off another Freeman RBI single. Freeman then scored off a Roberts RBI single to give UNC the lead, 8-6, heading into the bottom of the ninth. Brett Daniels continued in the ninth, and was able to close out the game and earn the victory for Carolina.

In the deciding game of the series, the Heels jumped out to a four-run lead in the first. Michael Busch started things out with a solo home run, his ninth of the year. UVA walked in a run, then a Zack Gahagan RBI single scored one with the bases loaded. The Cavaliers could not get out of a jam, and with the bases still loaded, Roberts was hit by a pitch to make it 4-0.

Virginia cut the lead in half after the third, but the Tar Heels put the game out of reach in the fourth. More UVA lapses led to Tessar scoring on a passed ball. Tessar later scored on a Freeman sac fly. The four-run inning was capped off with an Ashton McGee triple that scored two. UVA got three back in the bottom half to make it 8-5 UNC after four.

In the ninth, Virginia walked in another run. Then in the next at bat, Riley ripped a triple that cleared the bases, and pushed the Carolina lead to 12-5. UVA got one in the ninth, but Brett Daniels went on to earn the save in the 12-6 victory.

In the Duel at the DBAP (Durham Bulls Athletic Park), NC State started the scoring in the second with a two-run home run. Carolina responded with a run scored on a fielder’s choice.

The Wolfpack added two in the fourth and one in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-1.

Carolina attempted a rally in the eight with McGee scoring two off his two out single to left. Datres scored one of those two runs. His single put his current hitting streak at 17 games.

State hit a three-run home run to put the game out of reach in the ninth, as Carolina fell 8-3.

Below are the team leaders for UNC.

Batting:

• Batting average: .365 - Kyle Datres (3rd in ACC)
• Slugging percentage: .565 - Michael Busch (T-6th in ACC)
• Home runs: 9 - Michael Busch (T-7th in ACC)
• RBIs: 43 - Michael Busch (2nd in ACC)
• Hits: 54 - Kyle Datres (3rd in ACC)
• Runs: 37 - Kyle Datres (T-3rd in ACC)
• On-base percentage: .463 - Michael Busch (5th in ACC)

Pitching:

• ERA: 1.76 - Brett Daniels (minimum 10 innings pitched)
• Strikeouts: 55 - Tyler Baum
• Innings pitched: 49.0 - Tyler Baum
• Wins: 6 - Brett Daniels (6-0) (T-1st in ACC)
• Saves: 3 - Josh Hiatt

The Tar Heels are back at home this weekend, hosting Georgia Tech (22-16, 9-9) in a Coastal matchup that may have serious consequences on the divisional lead. Duke and NC State are facing off up the road in Durham this weekend, and the Yellow Jackets are sitting in third in the division behind the Blue Devils and Tar Heels.

Georgia Tech has some of the best hitters in the conference. Starters Chase Murray (.372), Joey Bart (.366), and Wade Bailey (.340) are all in the top ten in the ACC in batting average, with Murray leading the entire league. Another starter, Kyle McCann, and Bart sit second and third in the ACC in home runs with 12 and 11 home runs, respectively.

Pitching is the weak link for Georgia Tech with a team ERA of 4.70 and giving up over 200 runs on the season.

Friday is Fireworks Night at the Bosh, and Sunday is Kids Day.

In next Tuesday’s game versus Coastal Carolina, it is $2 Taco Night and Bark at the Park. UNC will face Western Carolina on Wing Wednesday next week.