After losing its first game of the season earlier this week at the hands of St. Johns, the eighth-ranked UNC baseball team dropped another heartbreaker on Friday at Boshamer Stadium–after freshman closer Josh Hiatt’s first career blown save ended up in a 5-2 loss to the Long Beach State Dirtbags.
The Dirtbags (5-4) scored four runs over the final two innings, which spoiled the latest phenomenal pitching effort from UNC’s preseason All-American right-hander, JB Bukauskas.
Bukauskas threw seven innings on Friday, striking out nine hitters and finally giving up his first run of the season–although the run was officially scored as unearned thanks to a pair of defensive errors leading up to it.
UNC (8-2) also struggled to find any type of offensive rhythm in the game. The Tar Heels tallied just five hits total, and scored both of their runs in the first two innings–one coming off a balk and the other on a sacrifice fly from sophomore third baseman Kyle Datres.
No player had more than a single hit on Friday for head coach Mike Fox.
The only reason the Tar Heels had a shot at winning was due to Bukauskas’ dominance on the mound, but the late inning bullpen collapse was enough to ensure UNC wouldn’t be able to come back.
After earning five saves already to this point in his young college career, it was surprising for Hiatt to become the scapegoat in Friday’s loss–but certainly not unprecedented, given his age.
Now UNC will simply have to get back up and try to take back control of the series with a win on Saturday.
Up Next:
Junior Jason Morgan will take the mound for UNC on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
Game Notes:
- The Tar Heels recorded four defensive errors in the game, and went 0-for-9 with runners on base on the offensive side.
- Long Beach State tallied seven hits to lead off innings, failing to get their first man on base just twice.
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