Jimmy Messer was cruising in the early innings of No. 1 North Carolina's 7-5 win against UNC-Wilmington.
UNC's freshman pitcher was four innings deep into his longest career outing and so far" he was dealing a no-hitter against UNC-Wilmington.
""It felt great" Messer said. Right from the bullpen out onto the field everything including the breaking ball and the change-up" felt really good.""
But then the fifth inning happened. Messer gave up four runs on three hits" and just like that" UNC was facing a 4-0 deficit.
""That was just a weird inning" catcher Mark Fleury said. They hit one ball hard" but everything else just found a hole.""
But if UNC-W (21-15) thought it had the Tar Heels beat" those thoughts didn't last long.
First it was Dustin Ackley sending a three-run shot to the flagpoles in right field" cutting the Seahawk lead to one.
Then it was Fleury with another three-run homer jacked to center field to give UNC the lead.
""I got lucky the guy gave me time before the pitch" Fleury said. I was happy … I hadn't hit a home run in three weeks now" so I'm pretty excited about it.""
For the game" Ackley and Fleury led the Tar Heels in both hits with three and RBI" with three. Fleury reached base four times on the evening and went a perfect 3-for-3.
The comeback was the biggest so far this season for the Tar Heels (32-10).
""It kind of sends a message that we're not going to let you walk away with a win" UNC coach Mike Fox said.
They left a couple of balls up. That's not typically the way we've won" but it's nice to see a couple balls leave the ballpark.""
With the lead"" Messer came back out for one more inning before Colin Bates came in as relief to work the final three-and-one-third innings. Messer's five-and-two-thirds innings of work was a career-long for him.
""We hung with him" because we thought — even after the four-run inning — we thought he was throwing the ball well Fox said. Those two walks hurt him" but that's his best outing as a Tar Heel.""
Messer managed to keep the shutout going through the early innings in part because of the play of Garrett Gore" who has developed into a solid outfielder after moving there this season. In the top of the third inning" Gore made a diving catch of a Mike Rooney fly-ball.
""He's been as good as we've seen" Fox said. He hustles playing defense out there he's aggressive" and he's saved us some runs.""
The North Carolina bullpen suffered a recent loss" as junior pitcher Bryant Gaines is scheduled to undergo Tommy John's surgery on his right elbow and will miss the rest of the season" Fox said after Tuesday's game.
Gaines had surgery on the elbow when he was 15 and now will have to redo the procedure.
""Mark my words: the kid will be back on the mound for us" Fox said. He's that dedicated and he's got that kind of will" that toughness. He'll be back.""
So far in the season" Gaines was 4-0 in seven starts and 10 appearances with 38 strikeouts and a 4.08 ERA.
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
