Baseball: Healthy pitchers a key for UNC

The top of the third inning on Saturday started as uneventfully as it gets.

With UNC holding a 2-0 lead against Coastal Carolina all-ACC pitcher Alex White toed the rubber.

The first batter he faced grounded out to third. And although he allowed a single right after the junior produced a flyout for out No. 2.

But from there things got dicey.

He hit CCU's Tyler Bortnick. Then he threw a wild pitch. Then another. And to top it off he walked a batter.

All told he allowed three runs that frame. And though such a performance is rarely a cause for alarm" the fact that White was battling a blister on his finger and a tweaked hamstring surely is.

""We got to get Alex healthy"" coach Mike Fox said. We'll monitor that situation.""

Such a statement doesn't exactly scream out ""panic"" but if the Tar Heels are to make their fourth straight trip to Omaha and the College World Series, a dominant — or at least effective — White is probably going to be a must.

Senior Adam Warren went for 6 2/3 innings in the regional final and will probably be counted upon for one start during this weekend's super regional against East Carolina.

But that appearance won't come until game two of the series — as Fox tries to give Warren enough rest.

We got Adam out as soon as we could — pitch-count wise — because we don't know when we're going to play"" Fox said Sunday.

Two days later, that changed. The NCAA assigned UNC's super regional a Saturday start date. And in reaction, Fox named White his opening starter.

After strong pitching performances ensued during the team's two previous meetings, the choice of the Greenville-native seems logical.

The teams combined for eight runs, though the likelihood of such an occurrence happening again is quite unlikely.

ECU boasts a team average of .341 at the plate – good for 14th in the nation. Six of its hitters have gone yard 11 or more times. The squad ranks fifth in hits in the NCAA.

And after UNC scored 31 runs during its regional, such signs point to an offensive struggle — making White's appearance all the more key.

We have similar teams" and I think we're playing our best baseball right now" Warren said. Hopefully that carries over to next weekend.""


Contact the sports editor at sports@unc.edu.