UNC baseball comes back to beat FAU in extras

It took 13 innings for the North Carolina baseball team to beat Florida Atlantic 12-11 Monday night and keep its season alive by earning the rights to host a Super Regional.

But those 13 innings made up a very special baseball game, according to coach Mike Fox.

Even in light of the marathon wins this season’s Tar Heels team has fought for in the past month, the regional that seemed to never end — despite a grand slam and three-run home run — became an instant classic.

“That might’ve been the greatest baseball game I’ve ever been a part of,” Fox said. “After the 18 innings game against (N.C.) State that I didn’t have any words to describe that game, and I certainly don’t have any to describe (this) one.

“You watched it.”

UNC took a first inning lead before FAU scored two runs in the top of the second, but North Carolina added one more run in the bottom of the inning to tie it.

The Tar Heels scored two more runs in the third and one more in each the fifth and seventh innings to lead 6-2 with only three outs between them and a Super Regional against South Carolina.

But a six-run top of the ninth that included a grand slam off Tyler Rocklein’s bat gave the Owls the advantage.

“There’s not a whole lot you can say after that when it’s the ninth inning,” Fox said. “They’re in the dugout saying ‘Let’s go,’ everybody’s just saying ‘Let’s go, get the tie and go.’”

“That’s kind of what you say in baseball, ‘Get the tying run to the plate, get the tying run to the plate.’ You want to get the winning run across the plate, but you take little baby steps just to try and give you a goal, get the leadoff guy on.”

And the Tar Heels did just that.

Cody Stubbs started the inning by doubling to left center, then advanced to third as Michael Russell singled.

Skye Bolt, who was batting seventh — his first time not in the cleanup spot since the second game of the season — struck out swinging before Mike Zolk came to the plate and sent a two-run single through the right side for the tie that pushed the game into extra innings.

“I’ve been in that spot a few times this year, and I think that’s when I’m at my best,” Zolk said. “I like being in spots like that, especially when the game’s on the line. I have to lock in extra, and I think that’s what gets me going.”

After scoreless 10th and 11th innings with no FAU baserunners against relief pitcher Chris McCue — who was the seventh pitcher for the Tar Heels and the one who got the win — the Owls began reaching base.

Rocklein was hit by a pitch to get on, then advanced to second as Corey Keller walked. Levi Meyer sent a home run over the left field wall for three runs, but McCue struck out the next batter he faced, and it was North Carolina’s chance again to keep its season alive.

Freshman designated hitter Landon Lassiter was first at bat and singled to start the offensive rally immediately. Colin Moran, the nation’s leading RBI man, walked, and Brian Holberton singled to load the bases.

After a pair of bases-loaded walks, Zolk repeated his game-tying play from the ninth by singling a ball to left field to score Holberton.

Parks Jordan grounded out to end the 12th inning, and McCue, Hobbs Johnson and Reilly Hovis combined forces from the mound to hold FAU scoreless in the top of the thirteenth.

Lassiter singled after leadoff man Chaz Frank grounded out to open the inning, then Moran walked again and Holberton was hit by a pitch to bring up another bases-loaded situation for UNC.

Stubbs was given a 1-2 count before doing all his team needed to end the game and prevent the end of its season.

“I was going to get the job done no matter what,” Stubbs said. “I chased a couple of bad pitches, but there was no way I wasn’t going to put the ball in play right there.

“I told myself no matter what, you’re putting the ball in play.”

And he did.

A single sent down the third baseline advanced Moran and Holberton and scored Lassiter as the North Carolina dugout emptied and engulfed Stubbs at first, and the overall no. 1 seed escaped elimination.