Datres' walk-off walk seals win for UNC baseball against Seahawks

Before the North Carolina baseball team took the field on Tuesday, Coach Mike Fox challenged his team to step up in a must-win game.

He doesn't like to do it often, especially not as early as April. But with his team faltering after an 18-2 start, Fox knew his squad needed a spark.

It worked.

In a riveting back-and-forth affair between two in-state rivals, the Tar Heels (27-15) edged past UNC-Wilmington (27-10) on a walk-off walk to seize a 10-9 win at Boshamer Stadium.

With the game tied at 9 in the bottom of the ninth inning, first-year Kyle Datres stepped into the batter's box with two outs and the bases loaded.

And after working a full count, the infielder — who hit a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning to tie the game — watched the final pitch fly past him for an RBI walk, ending the Tar Heels' three-game losing streak.

Shortstop Logan Warmoth entered the ninth inning with a game-high four hits, but the sophomore struck out swinging one at-bat prior to Datres' game-winning plate appearance.

First baseman Brian Miller opened the final frame with a single — one of his three hits in the game. The sophomore also led off the first inning with a double down the right-field line, sparking a six-run outburst to open the contest.

Jason Morgan started on the mound for UNC, a week after tossing four innings in the Tar Heels' most recent win against William and Mary.

The sophomore pitcher only lasted three frames, though, after allowing four UNC-Wilmington runs. Two pitches later, sophomore Brett Daniels gave up a two-run home run to settle the score at six runs apiece.

But with runs in the fourth and fifth innings — each aided by wild pitches from UNC-Wilmington — and Datres' two late RBIs, North Carolina held on to snap the Seahawks' nation-best 12-game winning streak.

Quotable

"We won pretty much despite ourselves tonight. That was some ugly baseball on both sides for a while. But again, if we can get back to playing like we were early, then we can win. We can be a good team." — Fox on his team's outlook after Tuesday's win.

Notable

Though Boshamer Stadium was noticeably empty in the latter half of the game — which lasted four hours and 19 minutes — the crowd was lively for the opening pitch. Young children and UNC athletes alike filled the stadium to meet their pen pals, while the second edition of Bacon Night prompted long lines at the concession stands.

Three numbers that matter

17: The Tar Heels have won 17 of their past 18 games against UNC-Wilmington, including two wins in the 2008 NCAA Cary Regional. The Seahawks most recently beat UNC in 2013 in Chapel Hill.

10: North Carolina improved to 15-0 when it scored 10 or more runs. The Tar Heels are 0-2 when their opponents plate at least 10 runs.

8: The two teams combined for eight errors in the game — with North Carolina recording five and UNC-Wilmington posting three of its own. UNC is now 7-8 when committing multiple errors and 14-6 when opponents do so.

What's next?

The Tar Heels will return to Boshamer Stadium to face Campbell at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The Camels haven't beaten North Carolina since an extra-innings win in 2007, which ended a nine-game winning streak in the series for UNC.

@CJacksonCowart

sports@dailytarheel.com