Rallying from an early 4-0 deficit, the No. 3 Louisville Cardinals defeated the UNC baseball team on Wednesday night by a score of 7-4 in the Tar Heels’ first pool play game of the ACC Tournament at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Tyler Ramirez led off the game with a solo home run, as the Tar Heel offense came out swinging against the Cardinals’ freshman right-hander Sean Leland–adding three more runs in the third inning before Leland could even record an out.

But Louisville came storming back against UNC senior Benton Moss, in what was likely Moss’s final ACC Tournament appearance.

Teammates greet Tyler Ramirez (14) after he led off the game with a home run. (Liz Condo, TheACC.com)

Teammates greet Tyler Ramirez (14) after he led off the game with a home run. (Liz Condo, TheACC.com)

First baseman Brendon McKay kicked off the comeback with a two-run homer off Moss in the fourth. Then after trimming the deficit with another run in the fifth, the Cardinals exploded for four runs in the sixth to take control of the game for good.

“I felt like I had good stuff,” Moss said after the game, “Obviously coming off a little short rest [after pitching Saturday against Virginia]. But still, I felt like a competed and made most of my pitches. I have to give it to McKay, he pretty much had my number all night unfortunately, but it’s all good. I felt like I was hitting most of my spots.”

Moss was replaced on the mound during the sixth inning rally after McKay doubled and later came in to score. He worked 5.1 innings while giving up five runs on five hits–including three to McKay, who came a triple short of hitting for the cycle.

With his team trailing by four runs, reliever Lincoln Henzman–the second freshman pitcher of the night for the Cardinals–took over for Leland with no outs in the third and held strong against the UNC lineup for the next six innings. In total, Henzman allowed no runs on just three hits while striking out six batters.

Missed opportunities will certainly haunt the Tar Heels after this one.

With no outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, they came out with nothing to show for it. Catcher Korey Dunbar struck out, and then Leland forced both Logan Warmoth and Joe Dudek to pop out–making Ramirez’s long ball the only damage Louisville suffered in the frame.

Louisville second baseman Sutton Whiting reacts after his RBI double in the fifth. (Liz Condo, TheACC.com)

Louisville second baseman Sutton Whiting reacts after his RBI double in the fifth. (Liz Condo, TheACC.com)

Again in the next inning the Tar Heels had a chance to tack on a couple more tallies when they put runners on first and second base with only one out.

As has been the case all year long though, the hitters failed to capitalize–as Alex Raburn and Landon Lassiter each flew out to end the threat.

“We needed to score more runs. Obviously you can’t ever have enough runs, especially against a good lineup,” UNC Head Coach Mike Fox said.

“We missed an incredible opportunity in the first two innings,” Fox said, “That somewhat has been the tale of our season, where we have a chance to go up two or three runs there early. And we did have a big inning, but we could have had more than one, and I think you have to in order to beat a team like Louisville.”

During the ninth inning, the Tar Heels final chance to make a comeback of their own, Louisville closer Zack Burdi retired the side in order–getting Skye Bolt to pop out to end the game.

After the game, Coach Fox couldn’t help but to tip his hat to a great Louisville team hailed by many to be a favorite to win not only the ACC Championship, but the National Championship as well.

“I don’t know that anybody expected anybody in our league, whether its a first year team or a team that’s been in the league for 100 years, to go 25-5 in our league,” said Coach Fox, “That’s a tremendous accomplishment. Some of the best teams we’ve ever had in the ACC haven’t been able to do that.”

“It’s quite impressive,” he added.

Up Next:

Next on the schedule for the Diamond Heels is a matchup with No. 13 Florida State (39-18, 18-13 ACC). The teams have not played yet this season. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Game Notes:

  • With his home run in the first inning Tyler Ramirez reached base for the 26th consecutive game.
  • UNC second baseman Alex Raburn picked up his second multi-hit game in as many days–going 2-5 on Wednesday after a 3-5 performance against Virginia Tech on Tuesday.
  • Carolina went just 1-10 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
  • Benton Moss’s seven strikeouts gave him 318 for his career–good enough for second in UNC history.

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