Somehow, some way, the No. 6 UNC baseball team keeps finding a way to win games in the most thrilling fashion.
Friday night at Boshamer Stadium was no exception, as the Tar Heels rallied to tie the game in the ninth inning before defeating the Fairfield Stags 4-3 on a walk-off walk in the bottom of the 13th.
UNC improves to 7-1 in 2016 after winning its fifth straight game, while Fairfield loses its first game of the season—falling to 3-1.
For seven innings it appeared that a walk-off was the last thing Tar Heel fans had to worry about. Junior starting pitcher Zac Gallen—the ace of the staff—had allowed no runs and just three hits through that time.
Zac Gallen dominated on the mound for the first seven innings before Fairfield came charging back. (Joe Bray/ UNC Athletics)
UNC was cruising along with a 2-0 lead when all of a sudden things went off the rails in the eighth, as Fairfield stormed back to take a 3-2 lead.
“I just want us to win a game in nine innings so we don’t have to bat in the bottom half,” Gallen said. “But you know, it’s good that we have that ‘never die’ attitude—that we’re always within one swing of the bat, one inning. That’s a positive thing.
“On the negative side, you wish [we] could do it in a little cleaner fashion,” he added. “But what are you gonna do? It’s baseball.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Tar Heel lead-off hitter Brian Miller found himself on third base with one out after hitting a triple that nearly cleared the wall in right field.
The next batter up, Adam Pate, hit a hard ground ball to Fairfield third baseman Tyler Blind, who fielded it and made the play over to first.
Miller, though, took it upon himself to turn on the jets and head for home—just barely touching home ahead of the tag.
Needless to say, UNC head coach Mike Fox was thrilled Miller’s decision ended up working out.
”Great instincts on his part,” Fox said of Miller’s lone-wolf decision making. “Actually, I thought he got a little bit of a late start. But great slide, and obviously great swing of the bat.
“Not too many guys can hit a ball that hard off the wall and get a triple out of it—but that’s just Brian’s speed,” the coach added.
The Tar Heels had to fight back on multiple occasions Friday, including the extra frames.
Freshman Cody Roberts made a few mistakes Friday, but redeemed himself with a huge double in the 13th. (Joe Bray/ UNC Athletics)
In the top of the 11th reliever AJ Bogucki got UNC out of a one-out bases loaded situation with a key strikeout followed by an inning-ending groundout.
Freshman catcher Cody Roberts was called twice for catcher interference during the game, and allowed a passed ball that put Fairfield ahead in the eighth. But his double in the 13th inning led to Eli Sutherland’s bases-loaded walk—the play that won the game.
To hear Fox tell it, this young team has, in some ways, already seen it all.
“We’ve been in some crazy games now,” the coach said. “You’d like to be tested and have to come from behind, play extra inning games, and do all that.
“I mean, we’ve had the whole shabang in eight games,” he continued. “The whole lesson in baseball—having to get a bunt down, make a play, pitch with the bases loaded after an intentional walk.
“You couldn’t script this out better.”
Up Next:
The Tar Heels will resume their series against Fairfield on Saturday, with first pitch set for 2 p.m.
Game Notes:
- Miller started in left field on Friday as UNC started sophomore Ryder Ryan at first base. Tyler Lynn, who has been the regular left fielder so far this year, went 2-for-5 out of the DH spot.
- After being charged with two earned runs, Gallen’s 2016 ERA skyrocketed up to 1.50.
- It’s the second walk-off Sutherland has had a direct impact on, as he delivered the game-winning hit against Oklahoma State this past Sunday.
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