Arizona capitalized on a pair of fielding errors in the top of the eighth inning to score three runs and stun the Diamond Heels 4-3 in the winner-take-all game of the NCAA Super Regionals at Boshamer Stadium Sunday afternoon. UNC’s season is over.
Carolina entered the inning leading 3-1 on the strength of a three-run home run from Jackson Van De Brake, but it was Van De Brake who booted a potential double play ball with nobody out in the eighth, kickstarting the Arizona rally. Prior to the error, UNC starting pitcher Ryan Lynch had cruised through seven innings of work, allowing just one Arizona run on a solo home run in the second inning.
Head coach Scott Forbes pulled Lynch in favor of Walker McDuffie following Van De Brake’s error, but the freshman fireballer fell victim to yet another fielding mistake. A throwing error from Gavin Gallaher on a bunt allowed one Arizona run to score, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. McDuffie walked the next batter and finally recorded the first out of the inning before Forbes made another pitching change, calling on Aidan Haugh out of the bullpen. Haugh, who pitched in Game 2 of the super regionals Saturday and had not thrown in back-to-back games all season, promptly allowed a two-RBI single up the middle to give Arizona the lead. He got out of the inning thanks to a double play, but the damage was done.
UNC threatened in the bottom of the inning, putting men on first and second base thanks to a pair of walks, but an Alex Madera groundout ended the frame. Carolina then went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.
UNC ends the season at 46-15. Carolina dropped the final two games of the super regional after winning the first, marking the first time the Diamond Heels have lost consecutive games since March.
Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter
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