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It has been a tough couple of weeks for the North Carolina Tar Heels. After six wins to start the season, UNC has victories in 6 of 13 and has not registered a weekend series win yet.
Carolina has dropped from all the major polls and after last weekend’s sweep by Notre Dame, the Tar Heels are winless in the ACC.
Below are the results from the last week:
UNC Baseball Results
| Date | Opponent | Result | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Result | Record |
| 3-6-20 | vs. Notre Dame | L 5-8 | 10-5 |
| 3-7-20 | vs. Notre Dame | L 8-11 | 10-6 |
| 3-8-20 | vs. Notre Dame | L 8-14 | 10-7 |
| 3-10-20 | vs. Gardner-Webb | W 13-6 | 11-7 |
| 3-11-20 | vs. VMI | W 9-2 | 12-7 |
In the first game Friday, Notre Dame built a 4-0 lead through three innings until UNC got on the board in the fourth. Catcher Eric Grintz and right fielder Dallas Tessar each had a RBI.
The Irish added a run in the sixth, while in the seventh first baseman Aaron Sabato responded with a two-run home run to cut the lead to 5-4. However, that was as close an the Tar Heels would get.
ND added three more runs to create their final tally. Sabato fought until the end as he added a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth.
In the Saturday matinee, Carolina bounced back twice in the game to tie the score, only to fall in extra innings.
UNC was down 2-0 after a first inning home run by the Fighting Irish. The Tar Heels erased that deficit by the fourth inning.
Notre Dame once again extended their lead, but this time notched six run to make it 8-2. The Tar Heels responded with five runs in the seventh. This big inning started with a Joey Lancellotti RBI single. Both Will Stewart and Tyler Causey had two-RBI singles. In the next inning, Lancellotti hit a sac fly to score Sabato and tie the game.
With the game knotted at eight, patrons at Boshamer Stadium enjoyed some free baseball. However, it was short lived. Notre Dame scored three in the tenth for the final margin of 11-8.
The final game of the series was filled with offense. The Irish scored five runs in the second to take the early lead. Eventually, ND extended their lead to 7-1.
Once again, UNC climbed back with another five-run inning. This time in the fourth, Carolina scored in a variety of ways, including a RBI single, RBI double, walked in, a fielder’s choice, and a sac fly.
However, Notre Dame responded in the top of the fifth with three runs. UNC could only muster one more run in the rest of the way.
The Fighting Irish gathered the brooms and swept the Tar Heels in their ACC opening series.
Against Gardner-Webb on Tuesday night, the Bulldogs had temporary leads in the top of the first and the top of the third. However, the Tar Heels were able to overcome these deficits and eventually extend their lead for good in the fifth.
Sabato was two-for-three with a home run and a double and Angel Zarate led the way with three RBIs. Additionally, freshman Kyle Smith earned his first two collegiate hits in UNC’s 13-6 victory.
Wednesday night versus VMI, UNC had a slow start at the plate. After a Tessar solo shot in the second, VMI scored two in the third and held that 2-1 lead until a Harris homer in the fifth.
The 2-2 tie was busted open in the seventh with a seven-run inning by the Tar Heels. The offensive burst was started off by home runs from Sabato and Patrick Alvarez. Harris and Danny Serretti also had RBIs in that inning.
Carolina went on to take the 9-2 victory. Of note, Sabato continued his home run streak. He has six dingers in six games.
Please see this update from the ACC:
Statement from the Atlantic Coast Conference:
— The ACC (@theACC) March 12, 2020
“The Atlantic Coast Conference has suspended all athletic related activities including all competition, formal and organized practice, recruiting and participation in NCAA championships until further notice."
In light of the suspension of athletic activities, there will not be a baseball preview article. As such, here are the current leaders for the Tar Heels:
Batting:
- Batting average: .408 - Angel Zarate
- Slugging percentage: .708 - Aaron Sabato
- Home runs: 7 - Aaron Sabato
- RBI: 18 - Aaron Sabato and Angel Zarate
- Hits: 29 - Angel Zarate
- Runs: 22 - Dylan Harris
- On-base percentage: 478 - Aaron Sabato
Pitching:
- ERA: 1.74 - Chris Joyner (minimum 10 innings pitched)
- Strikeouts: 21 - Joey Lancellotti
- Innings pitched: 24.1 - Joey Lancellotti
- Wins: 3 - Kyle Mott (3-0) and Nik Pry (3-2)
- Saves: 1 - Austin Love, Shawn Rapp, and Gage Gillian