A 3-0 lead for the Diamond Heels went up in smoke in the bottom of the eighth inning at East Carolina Friday night, as six Pirate runs spoiled what had been a masterful performance from starting pitcher Max Carlson. Carolina attempted to rally in the top of the ninth, but couldn’t push the tying run across in a 6-5 defeat.

Carlson had tossed seven shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out nine. At 95 pitches, Carlson was relieved to start the eighth by Dalton Pence. Pence walked the first batter he faced, and it was all downhill from there. Pence allowed two consecutive RBI doubles which cut the lead to 3-2 before being relieved himself. The rest of the Tar Heel bullpen couldn’t stop the avalanche, as ECU tied the game on a fielding error and took the lead on a single two batters later. Four runs were charged to Pence, who took the loss and registered just one out.

Vance Honeycutt and Mac Horvath each smacked RBI doubles in the top of the ninth and Horvath stood on third base with two outs, but a fly out by Tomas Frick ended the game and dealt Carolina a difficult loss to swallow.

UNC won’t get a shot at revenge until Sunday in Chapel Hill, as Saturday’s second game in Greenville was postponed due to the threat of inclement weather. Sunday’s game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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