A suicide squeeze bunt in the top of the ninth inning broke a 4-4 tie and was enough to give Miami a win over the Diamond Heels in the first of a three-game series at Boshamer Stadium.

The Hurricanes trailed 4-2 after three innings, but scored a run each in the fourth, sixth and ninth innings to come back and win. Carolina managed only two baserunners after a three-run home run from Hunter Stokely in the third and no baserunners at all from the sixth inning onward.

The UNC pitching was good enough to win the game, but could not overcome the silent bats in the late inning. Starter Max Carlson allowed three runs in five innings and left in line for the win, but reliever Matthew Matthijs gave up the tying run in his 1.1 innings of work. Matt Poston and Kevin Eaise pitched the final 2.2 innings, with Eaise being assigned the tough luck loss. Eaise’s ninth inning included a leadoff walk, a bloop single, a sacrifice a groundout and the suicide squeeze to push across the winning run. There wasn’t a hard-hit ball in the frame.

The loss drops UNC to 23-11 overall and 8-6 in ACC play, a game behind the 9-7 Hurricanes. The teams will meet up again on Friday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini

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