The No. 17 North Carolina baseball team dropped its regular season finale to No. 14 N.C. State, 10-1, at Doak Field on Saturday. After the loss, the Tar Heels (34-21, 13-17 ACC) will have to wait on Game 2 of a Saturday doubleheader between Boston College and Georgia Tech to see if they will make the ACC Tournament.
What happened?
North Carolina scored at least two runs in the first inning on both Thursday and Friday, but could not get anything going at the plate in Game 3.
After their first five batters failed to reach base, the Tar Heels picked up a double and a single to put some pressure on N.C. State (34-18, 15-13 ACC) pitcher Ryan Williamson. But North Carolina was unable to capitalize, as first-year catcher Cody Roberts struck out to end the inning.
Over the next two innings, N.C. State would tally three runs to take the early lead. UNC responded with a run of its own in the top of the fourth inning, but the Wolfpack tacked on two more in the bottom of the frame to push the lead to 5-1.
N.C. State put the game away in the bottom of the seventh inning. After getting the leadoff man on, the Wolfpack went on to score three runs in the frame, the latter two coming off of a towering two-run home run to left-center by Evan Mendoza. N.C. State led 9-1 after the seventh inning, and North Carolina couldn't come back.
Who stood out?
Arguably the only player worth mentioning for UNC was Adam Pate. In his first three plate appearances, the junior right fielder picked up three two-out hits. His teammates were unable to hit him in, however, on any of the three occasions.
For the Wolfpack, junior first baseman Preston Palmeiro went 2-for-2 on the day with two RBIs. His two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning ended up being the deciding swing of the game, as North Carolina couldn't get its offense going in the middle and late innings.
