GREENVILLE, N.C. — The No. 21 North Carolina baseball (13-10, 8-7) team lost to No. 8 East Carolina (18-5,0-0), 11-10, on Tuesday night after an eighth inning collapse that saw the Tar Heels squander a four-run lead in the eighth inning to lose on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.
What happened?
After getting swept in three games by N.C. State over the weekend, the Tar Heels started out locked in at the plate, with lead-off batter Justice Thompson hitting a double on the very first pitch of the game. After left fielder Angel Zarate advanced him to third on a ground-out to first base, shortstop Danny Serretti hit a home run on his second pitch faced to put the Tar Heels up 2-0 early.
The hot hitting continued for UNC, with right fielder Caleb Roberts walking to first then getting sent to third from a base hit by Tomas Frick. After switching pitchers, ECU struck out first baseman Hunter Stokely, but surrendered two more runs after a double second baseman Johnny Castagnozzi brought the two men on base home before designated hitter Dallas Tessar struck out at the plate to end the top of the first inning.
In their first round of batting, the Pirates knocked one base hit and drew two walks from the Tar Heels' starting pitcher Caleb Cozart in the first four at bats to load the bases. A single from Alec Makarewicz straight up the pitchers mound drove in ECU's first run, and after Zach Agnos drew a walk the score 4-2.
With ECU starting the second inning with its third pitcher of the game, a double from Roberts drove in two more runs after two prior walks, putting UNC up 6-2 after the top of the second.
After hitting a double and putting two runners on base with a poorly-fielded bunt, the Pirates scored their first run of the second on a single to right center field from Ryder Giles. A sacrifice fly would cut North Carolina's lead to just two before the end of the inning.
East Carolina came back to tie the game in the home side of the fourth after Bryson Worrell hit a single and Connor Norby knocked him in with a home run over the right field wall to make it 6-6.
North Carolina's bats started to heat up again in the sixth inning, with Thompson hitting a single through the left side, and Zarate helping UNC retake the lead by slugging a two-run homer over the right field wall. Roberts added onto the total with a solo home run of his own to push the score to 9-6 before UNC finished the inning.
