Struggles at the plate cost the 11th ranked UNC baseball team on Saturday night, as they fell 6-3 to the Rhode Island Rams, closing out their three game series played at Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. The win is the first of the season for the Rams, bringing them to 1-5 on the year. Carolina drops to 6-3.

Trouble arrived early for the Tar Heels, with Rhode Island scoring a run in each of the first two innings to take control of the proceedings. Rams’ catcher Derek Gardella singled in shortstop Tim Caputo in the first, before a pair of errors in the second extended the frame, and allowed third baseman Matt O’Neil to score on a ground-out by Caputo.

Things settled down after that, with UNC starting pitcher Zac Gallen (0-1) maintaining his composure throughout. The Milk-Man delivered a solid outing, despite being credited with the loss in his first start of the year, keeping Rhode Island off the board after the unearned run in the second. He struck out nine hitters in six innings on 99 pitches, and gave up just five hits.

Senior Trevor Kelley relieved starter Zac Gallen to begin the seventh. (UNC Athletics)

Senior Trevor Kelley relieved starter Zac Gallen to begin the seventh. (UNC Athletics)

He just couldn’t get any run support, as the offense was lacking for the Tar Heels in this one.

Skye Bolt doubled to lead-off the bottom of the first for Carolina, but Rhode Island junior Lou Distasio (1-1) retired the next three batters to put a halt to that threat immediately. The right-hander was tremendous for the Rams, throwing six scoreless innings, striking out nine, while laboring for 111 pitches in the winning effort.

In the bottom of the seventh UNC was able to load the bases with two outs, but freshman reliever Dom Grillo got Tyler Ramirez to fly out to center-field, keeping the shutout alive.

Brian Miller, the freshman from Raleigh, finally broke the drought for UNC, knocking home Adrian Chacon in the bottom of the eighth to pull the Rhode Island lead back to just 2-1. Miller was in Carolina’s designated hitter spot, making his first career start, after impressing coaches in his pinch hit opportunities thus far (he’s batting .500 for the year).

Hopes seemed to be crushed for good as soon as the Rams got their shot to retaliate in the top of the ninth. They pounded out four runs (one unearned) off of the Tar Heels’ bullpen combination of Chris McCue and Spencer Trayner to give themselves the breathing room that would decide the game.

Carolina refused to give up, loading the bases yet again, this time with no outs in the top of the ninth. As the clock ticked past midnight and the game time approached four hours, Rhode Island closer Tyler Barss walked in one run and allowed another on a sacrifice fly by Alex Raburn.

Unfortunately, the Tar Heels weren’t able to find the energy to dig out of the deficit provided by the bullpen meltdown earlier in the inning, losing their second straight series finale.

UNC leads the all-time series between the teams 3-1.

Up Next:

A road game at Liberty University on Monday awaits the Tar Heels, having just been added to the schedule to help make up for the recent cancellations with St. John’s and Winthrop.

Game Notes:

  • The Tar Heels committed five errors on the game
  • They also left 13 men on base
  • UNC sophomore shortstop Wood Myers went 1-2 with three walks, increasing his average to .400

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

 

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