In the first bout of a three-game series, the No. 10 seed North Carolina baseball team (42-21, 15-15 ACC) fell to the Arkansas Razorbacks (42-19, 18-12 SEC), 4-1, Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
What happened?
After holding the Razorback scoreless in the first frame, the Diamond Heels looked to be in prime position to score the game’s first run.
First, leadoff batter Angel Zarate sliced the first pitch he saw to right field. Moments later, a standing double by junior shortstop Danny Serretti and a four-pitch walk loaded the bases for UNC with one out. But, back-to-back outs by sophomore designated hitter Alberto Osuna and senior left fielder Mikey Madej left the Diamond Heels empty-handed.
Following four scoreless innings, Arkansas struck first.
In the top of the fifth inning, first-year first baseman Payton Stovall launched a solo homer into the right-center field netting and gave Arkansas the first run of the afternoon. Then, consecutive RBIs by senior designated hitter Brady Slavens and sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace increased the Razorbacks’ lead to 3-0.
As Arkansas continued to keep the Diamond Heels’ bats silent, the Razorbacks’ offense added to their lead. Following a pair of walks for Arkansas, Slaven’s single inched past the outstretched glove of Serretti and drove in the fourth run of the afternoon for the Razorbacks.
In the bottom frame of the same inning, the Diamond Heels appeared to be on the brink of breaking its scoring drought. Sophomore Colby Wilkerson’s two-out single triggered a pitching change for the Razorbacks, but Zarate grounded out on the first pitch he faced and ended North Carolina’s push.
Arkansas looked to be in a position to increase its lead in the next frame after a leadoff walk and sacrifice bunt stationed a Razorback in scoring position with one out. But, senior pitcher Caden O’Brien fended off the pressure from Arkansas, retiring the next two batters via strikeout and groundout.
