Bizarre sixth inning gives Tar Heels series sweep against Xavier

The No. 7 North Carolina baseball team loudly swept the opening series of the season against Xavier. The Tar Heels poured in 34 runs over the three games, the most that they have scored in an opening series since 2006. 

Sunday’s game was decided in a unique sixth inning, when the Tar Heels scored five runs and “batted around” without a single hit en route to their 14-3 victory to close out the weekend.

The game

To start the game, junior Austin Bergner gave up a full count to Xavier’s leadoff hitter, Chris Givin, before striking him out. It set the tone for a short outing for Bergner, who was plagued by his pitch count but was able to avoid major trouble.

Leadoff hitter Dylan Harris popped a short home run just over the glove of the right fielder to give UNC a 1-0 lead after one inning.

Bergner started to find his rhythm, striking out the side in the third and the first batter of the fourth. Meanwhile, junior Brandon Martorano pummeled a ball off of the top of the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning for a two-run shot that put UNC ahead, 5-1.

In the fifth, Bergner’s pitch count caught up with him, as he started the inning with 67 pitches. A wild pitch scored a runner, and after third baseman Ben Casparius slipped on the rain-soaked rubber around the dugout on a foul pop up, the batter used his second chance to hit a sac fly. Bergner exited after 4 1/3 innings, having allowed three runs, two of them earned, on five hits, three walks and six strikeouts. He hurled 88 pitches. 

Redshirt senior Hansen Butler relieved Bergner and got out of the inning, and was himself relieved by first-year Connor Ollio with the bases loaded in the sixth. Ollio worked himself into a full count with two outs, but caught the Xavier batter looking with an offspeed pitch to end the trouble.

The bottom of the inning all but put away the game for the Tar Heels, but in an unusual way. North Carolina scored five runs and sent eleven batters to the plate without getting a single hit. Three hit batters, five walks, a fielder’s choice and a passed ball gave the Tar Heels an 11-3 lead heading into the final third of the game.

The Tar Heels closed out the game for a 14-3 win and series sweep.

The sixth inning

To start the bottom of the inning, Casparius stepped to the plate and quickly took a ball between the shoulder blades. Dylan Enwiller followed him and also took a ball off the number on his back. Harris hit the first ball in play of the inning — a fielder’s choice putout at second that left him on first base and advanced Casparius to third.

The strike zone went unfrequented from there.

Michael Busch walked to load the bases. The big-hitting first-year first baseman Aaron Sabato got an RBI from a ball that hit him in the shoulder. The first-year cleanup hitter Caleb Roberts got an RBI, too, when he walked. 

At this point, Xavier saw fit to change pitchers. David Williams came on to relieve Taylor Williams.

The new Williams got off to a rocky start as Busch came around to score on a passed ball.

Ike Freeman quickly filled the open spot on the bases. He walked.  

Ashton McGee walked, scoring UNC’s fourth run of the inning. Brandon Martorano was patient at the plate, and was rewarded with an RBI walk. 

Nathan Berg came in from the bullpen, finally ending the inning by striking out Casparius, who had been the first batter of the inning, and forcing the second batted ball of the inning, a line out to second base by Enwiller.

North Carolina stranded three runners on base, but ended the inning with an 11-3 lead.

What it means

The Tar Heels hope to return to Omaha for the second season in a row, and continuing their nation-best 21-game home winning streak was an ideal way to start the 2019 campaign. 

With former Freshman All-American pitchers Gianluca Dalatri and Caden O’Brien anchoring their starting rotation and bullpen, UNC got a good look at their tools on offense over the weekend, including first-years Sabato and Roberts batting in the three and four spots.

Despite stranding 11 runners on base, UNC showed that it can provide plenty of run support to match its pitching, outscoring Xavier, 34-9, on the weekend. 

Sunday’s game showed that the team can do it without even swinging a bat. 

Who do they play next?

The Tar Heels will stay home and face NC A&T on Tuesday at 3 p.m. 

@James_Tatter

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com