Coming into Wednesday night’s game against Western Carolina, the North Carolina baseball team had every reason to be confident.
The No. 10 Tar Heels were coming off a three-game sweep of Georgia Tech this weekend and had won 13 of their last 16 games. The fact that the team was unranked less than three weeks ago illustrates just how quickly it has ascended.
Add into consideration that their opponent was 1-16 in its last 17 games, and had won just four games all season. So, it’s safe to say that the majority of the people at Boshamer Stadium on Wednesday night were expecting a UNC (28-13, 15-6 ACC) win.
But as any player or coach will tell you, once the first pitch is thrown, expectations mean nothing.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Tar Heels’ win on Wednesday night, then, is just how easy they made it look.
To put it bluntly, the Catamounts never had a chance in this one. From start to finish, in every aspect of the game, UNC seemed in full control.
A three-up, three-down inning from pitcher Taylor Sugg got the game underway before center fielder Brandon Riley launched a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the first to start the scoring. One inning later, third baseman Kyle Datres singled to drive in catcher Brandon Martorano and stretch the lead to three runs.
After a couple of strong defensive plays from left fielder Dallas Tessar and second baseman Zack Gahagan bailed out UNC relief pitcher Ben Casparius in the top of the fifth, the wheels began to fall off for the Catamounts.
First baseman Michael Busch advanced to first base on an error to start the bottom of the inning, then Datres was hit by a pitch and Riley singled to right field to load the bases. Shortstop Ike Freeman walked to bring home a run, before designated hitter Ashton McGee singled to drive in another and to keep the bases loaded. Two walks later, and the Tar Heels had plated four runs in the inning on just two hits.
