The Diamond Heels lost two competitive games to No. 11 East Carolina on Saturday and Sunday, losing the series despite winning Friday’s opener. Carolina is now 5-2 on the season.

Saturday’s game in Fayetteville saw UNC dig itself into a deep hole and then nearly climb back out. Carolina went down 2-0 in the third, 4-0 in the fifth and finally 7-0 after three more runs in the seventh. Each of the Diamond Heels’ first four pitchers to take the mound allowed at least one run, with starter Ben Peterson tagged with the loss after lasting only 3.1 innings and giving up two.

Carolina’s offense finally found some life in the bottom of the eighth, as Alberto Osuna and Vance Honeycutt both homered to cut the lead to 7-3. UNC put together another rally in the ninth, as Osuna drove in a run with a single and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs. Unfortunately for Carolina, Alex Madera lined out to third base, sealing the team’s first loss of the season.

The rubber match on Sunday in Greenville would be full of twists and turns. Once again, ECU jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first and another in the second. A home run in the fifth extended the lead to 4-0, but Carolina had an answer. Casey Cook cut the deficit in half with a two-run blast in the sixth, and Gavin Gallaher came up big in the seventh with a pinch-hit, three-run home run to give the Diamond Heels their first lead since Friday night.

But in a sign of things to come, ECU answered right back. The Pirates tallied three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh, going back up 7-5. UNC then took its turn on the yo-yo, scoring three more runs in the top of the eighth. The bottom of the eighth saw ECU swing back in front again on a two-run home run, but the Diamond Heels still weren’t dead. A wild pitch with runners on second and third and two outs brought the tying run across home plate, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth tied 9-9.

Despite striking out the first Pirate batter, the inning went off the rails in a hurry for Carolina. A single, double and intentional walk loaded the bases, and after UNC brought the infield in, ECU’s Bristol Carter lobbed a single into right field to end a thrilling game. Carolina used seven relievers on the day; six gave up at least one hit and five were charged with at least one earned run. None lasted more than two innings.

UNC will return to the friendly confines of Boshamer Stadium to face VCU on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini

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