The VCU Rams upset No. 10 overall seed Carolina in the winner’s bracket of the NCAA Regionals Saturday night in Boshamer Stadium, but the talk after the game was not about either of the two teams. Rather, attention was turned to the umpires. Two controversial calls in the early innings clouded over what was a very competitive game from start to finish, one which VCU won, 4-3.
But the result perhaps could’ve been different if those two critical calls didn’t go against the Tar Heels. In the second inning, Carolina loaded the bases with one out and the score tied, 0-0. Johnny Castagnozzi stepped up to bat, and sent a ground ball to the second baseman. The Rams attempted to turn a double play, but Tomas Frick collided with the VCU shortstop as he slid into second base. Frick’s head hit the Rams shortstop’s knee. The play is a common one in baseball, as runners often try to break up a potential double play as much as they can, within legal limits.
Frick’s slide, however, was deemed to be baserunner interference and Castagnozzi was called out, ending the inning. Castagnozzi would have been safe at first base otherwise, and Carolina would’ve been leading 1-0. The play was reviewed, but upheld.
VCU hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning (the Rams were the home team by virtue of a coin flip), but Carolina appeared to be in position to rally in the top of the third. Colby Wilkerson and Mac Horvath stood on second and first base with Danny Serretti up to bat with one out. Serretti popped a ball up on the infield. In situations such as these, umpires normally choose to call the “Infield Fly” rule, which in baseball means the batter is automatically out and the baserunners can advance “at their own peril,” regardless of if the ball is caught or not. The rule goes into effect if the umpire judges the fielder can catch the ball with ordinary effort, and is designed to prevent teams from intentionally dropping the ball and getting a double play.
But that’s exactly what the Rams did, as the umpires did not call an infield fly and Wilkerson and Horvath were both forced out on the basepaths.
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 5, 2022
An irate Scott Forbes argued with the umpiring crew for the second time in two innings, and his arguments were so vehement that he was ejected from the game. It’s only the second time in Forbes’ short career as UNC head coach that he has been ejected. Afterward, the NCAA ruled Forbes would be suspended for the next two games. In a tweet, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham called Forbes’ suspension “incredibly disappointing,” and said he had received “no explanation for the call that ultimately led to the suspension.”
It is incredibly disappointing to have the NCAA confirm a two game suspension for our head baseball coach – yet have no explanation for the call that ultimately led to the suspension.
We must do better for our student-athletes and teams
— Bubba Cunningham (@BubbaUNC) June 5, 2022
And that was just the first two and a half innings!
The game stayed close throughout, with Carolina starter Brandon Schaeffer once again providing a strong effort, allowing just one run in 5.1 innings. The Rams got critical insurance runs in the seventh and eighth on home runs to extend their lead to 4-1. Vance Honeycutt had gotten Carolina on the board in the eighth with his 23rd home run of the season.
The Tar Heels threatened again in the top of the ninth, scoring two on a Serretti home run and then drawing consecutive walks with two outs. Mikey Madej stepped up to bat, but couldn’t drive home the runners, popping out to end the game. No infield fly rule was called.
New winning streak starts tomorrow.#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/Rzo0APgzCy
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 5, 2022
It was a frustrating night at the ballpark for the Tar Heels, who left 12 men on base and felt strongly about several umpiring decisions. Regardless, Carolina will now play for its season Sunday afternoon against Georgia at 1 p.m. All the Bulldogs did Saturday was score 24 runs in a win over Hofstra. The winner of that game will play a nightcap against VCU at 6 p.m. Should the Tar Heels (or Bulldogs) win that game as well, a final game would be played Monday afternoon.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications
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Why is no one talking about the fact that the pitcher could have caught that infield fly by taking 2 steps back, but instead he stood and watched? That would have been “ordinary effort”. The umpires just blew the call but didn’t have the guts to admit it.