A sloppy start by the Carolina pitching staff set the Diamond Heels in an early 8-1 hole, and LSU held the lead from there to win 8-4 on Sunday night at Boshamer Stadium. It’s just the third home loss suffered by the Tar Heels all season.

The Tigers’ Josh Pearson opened the scoring by taking UNC starter Aidan Haugh deep for a two-run shot in the bottom of the first innings (LSU was batting as the home team). That lead expanded to 3-0 in the third, and – after UNC played a run in the top of the fourth – the Tar Heel pitchers struggled mightily in the bottom of the frame. Haugh allowed a lead-off single before being lifted for Kyle Percival, who promptly walked the only two batters he saw. Connor Bovair entered and allowed consecutive RBI singles. After an RBI groundout, LSU led 8-1 before the inning finally ended.

The Tar Heels chipped away with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh, but chances were plentiful to move even closer. UNC left the bases loaded in the sixth, two men on in the seventh and eighth and then left the bases loaded once again in the ninth. In total, Carolina left 12 men on base. Gavin Gallaher and Vance Honeycutt, the heroes of UNC’s first two games of the regional, combined to go 0-10 with six strikeouts.

LSU starter Thatcher Hurd posted a strong line of 5.2 innings with six strikeouts and just two runs allowed. Four Tiger relievers combined for the nervy finish.

UNC threw four pitchers on the night: Haugh, Percival, Bovair and Cameron Padgett. Padgett held the Tigers in check over his 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit. Carolina head coach Scott Forbes wouldn’t elaborate on his pitching plan for Monday night’s matchup.

“All of our horses, they’ll be ready,” he said.

Monday night’s winner-take-all matchup for the right to advance to next weekend’s Super Regionals is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Diamond Heels haven’t lost consecutive home games since April 22-23, 2023.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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