A walk-off wild pitch capped off a crazy ending at Boshamer Stadium on Wednesday, handing the 11th ranked UNC baseball team a 6-5 win over the VCU Rams, as they escaped a dramatic comeback attempt to improve their 2015 record to 8-3. The defeat drops VCU to 3-6.

The Tar Heels led the game 5-2 entering the top of the ninth inning, with ace Trent Thornton on to seal the deal. A win seemed like a sure thing for Carolina, but the Rams had other plans, striking for three runs off of Thornton to tie the game. Coach Mike Fox says that was definitely an unusual sight.

“It was a little bit surprising obviously with Trent,” Fox says, “We’ve got a three-run lead, two outs, and nobody on and (then) we’re making the game right now a little bit harder than it should be. You don’t see that from Trent Thornton.”

Carolina had to rally to pull this one out. (UNC Athletics)

Freshman Brian Miller entered the game as a pinch runner with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth. UNC slugger Skye Bolt was at the plate, when VCU freshman closer Sean Johnson’s pitch sailed by the catcher, allowing Miller to score. Afterwards, Miller was stunned by what had just happened.

“It was a shocker,” Miller says, “Bring our closers in, and you expect to close the game, but that’s just baseball sometimes. We were prepared for it and came back and won the game, thankfully.”

Making his first start in center-field in place of the struggling Bolt, who came into the game batting just .212, sophomore Adam Pate delivered the first RBI of the day for the Tar Heels in a three-run second inning that allowed UNC to work with the lead all game long.

Describing his own thoughts on the ending, Pate says “Wow, not like our pitchers, but I’m sure they’ll bounce right back and get back to mid-season form, hopefully soon. That’s ball, that’s how it goes. They’re all better than how they pitched tonight, so they’ll be back ready to go for the weekend.

A strong unit normally, the Carolina pitchers walked nine batters on Wednesday.

Up Next:

The pitching performance will be something to keep an eye on in Chapel Hill this weekend, with UNC opening up ACC play at home against the arch-rival Duke Blue Devils. The teams are scheduled to play a three game series beginning Friday at 3 P.M.

Game Notes:

  • UNC held VCU without a hit from the fourth inning until the ninth inning rally
  • Freshman Nick Raquet (1-0) earned his first career victory by recording the final out, after replacing Thornton
  • It was the Tar Heels’ first home game since February 15th

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

 

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