For the first time during the 2016 college baseball season the No. 7 UNC baseball team found itself on the wrong end of a series sweep–as the Tar Heels were defeated 7-4 on Sunday by the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes.

Sophomore Brian Miller–who started in left field for UNC–went 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a pair of doubles at Mark Light Field in Miami. One of those doubles drove in a pair of runs and put the Tar Heels ahead 3-0 in the top of the second inning.

The Hurricanes simply held strong and waited for the Tar Heels to crack, their go-to plan all weekend long.

Although UNC entered the series 16-2 in games where it scored first, Miami rallied to win after facing early deficits three consecutive times.

The Hurricanes are now 23-4 (10-2 ACC) this season while the Tar Heels drop to 20-7 (6-6 ACC).

The Tar Heels used six pitchers to get through Sunday's loss. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

The Tar Heels used six pitchers to get through Sunday’s loss. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

Right-hander Jason Morgan (2-3) worked through the fourth inning on Sunday without giving up a run to Miami, but the fifth was a completely different story.

After putting the first three hitters in the frame on base–two walks sandwiched around a single by Carl Chester–Morgan’s day was done early.

The 6-foot-6-inch righty had thrown just four complete innings and 68 pitches, but the walks were his third and fourth of the day–a foreshadowing of the control issues that haunted the Tar Heels in the late innings.

Reliever AJ Bogucki came in to a bases-loaded situation and immediately struck out Miami’s Zack Collins. Bogucki then gave up a two-run double to Jacob Heyward that opened up the dam. A wild pitch brought a third run home, followed later by a sacrifice fly from Johnny Ruiz and an RBI single from Willie Abreu.

Just like that, it was 5-3 in favor of the Hurricanes.

Each team was kept quiet through the sixth and seventh innings, but for a brief moment in the eighth it appeared as if the Tar Heels were about to put together a rally–as they have so many times before this year.

Catcher Cody Roberts singled with two outs, and then came home to score after the next at-bat on Miller’s second double of the day–making it a one-run ball game.

Miami then turned to its star closer Bryan Garcia a little bit earlier than normal. Garcia validated that decision by getting Tar Heel second baseman Eli Sutherland to fly out.

Then the control problems came back for the UNC pitching staff.

Cody Roberts tried to kick-start a UNC rally in the eighth, but allowed a passed ball that led to a Miami run later in the inning. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

Cody Roberts tried to kick-start a UNC rally in the eighth, but allowed a passed ball that led to a Miami run later in the inning. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

The Hurricanes loaded the bases in their half of the eighth against reliever Spencer Trayner–who gave up two hits and a walk. After the Tar Heels turned to lefty Zach Rice in response, Miami simply took ball four and extended its lead.

Freshman Cole Aker took the mound after Rice’s mistake, but had a pitch mishandled behind the plate by Roberts–who did not start the game, entering as a pinch-hitter for Brandon Illies in the top half of the inning.

The passed ball gave Miami all the comfort it would need to get to the finish.

Down three runs and down to their final three outs, the Tar Heels were only able to muster up a two-out single by Brandon Riley–their 11th hit of the afternoon.

Garcia then retired Adam Pate to end the game, and the sweep.

Up Next: 

UNC returns home to Boshamer Stadium for a Tuesday night contest with High Point on April 5 at 6 p.m.

Game Notes:

  • Miami’s seven runs came on just seven hits. UNC’s pitchers walked nine batters though.
  • Sophomore Zack Gahagan was the only Tar Heel other than Miller to record an RBI–driving in the first run of the game with his second-inning single.
  • Morgan’s four innings were the least he’s thrown in a start this season.
  • Miami starting pitcher Danny Garcia lasted just 3 2/3 innings. The Hurricanes used five different pitchers on their way to victory.