After falling behind by 10 runs, the North Carolina baseball team (20-20, 14-15 ACC) could not complete its comeback against No. 6 Notre Dame (23-8, 20-8 ACC) and lost 13-12 in game two in South Bend.
What happened?
The Fighting Irish found success at the plate early and often. The team scored once in the bottom of the first, but North Carolina tied the score on an RBI by first-year catcher Tomas Frick that drove in redshirt sophomore outfielder Angel Zarate. Notre Dame then put four more on the board in the second to take a 5-1 lead into the fourth, where the Irish scored two more runs to go up 7-1.
UNC cut into the deficit in the top of the fifth when senior outfielder Dallas Tessar knocked a double to left center to drive in first-year infielder Mac Horvath, but the Irish would add three more runs in the bottom half. In the bottom of the sixth, Notre Dame scored two more to build a 10-run advantage.
Down 12-2, UNC’s bats suddenly came alive. The Tar Heels scored three runs in the seventh and six in the eighth to cut Notre Dame’s lead to one, but the Fighting Irish added an insurance run on a UNC error in the bottom half of the inning.
North Carolina went into the top of the ninth needing to continue its offensive run. First-year catcher Max Riemer led off with a homer to right to give the Tar Heels a chance, but the visitors’ comeback bid came up short with three consecutive outs to end the game.
Who stood out?
The Tar Heels’ attempt at a comeback was led by senior outfielder Dallas Tessar and redshirt sophomore outfielder Angel Zarate. Both players went 4-5 at the plate with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.
Sophomore outfielder Caleb Roberts and first-year infielders Mac Horvath and Johnny Castagnozzi were also valuable, each scoring two runs.
