Alex Madera, Colby Wilkerson silence doubters during extra inning battle against LSU
UNC graduate infielder Alex Madera (1) celebrates during the NCAA Chapel Hill regional game against LSU on Monday, June 3, 2024.
Alex Madera and Colby Wilkerson have always been doubted.
The graduate second baseman Madera played four years of Division III baseball at Arcadia University, compiling a career batting average of .432, before getting the chance to play on the biggest stage in collegiate baseball.
When hitting coach Jesse Wierzbicki saw Wilkerson for the first time, he knew Wilkerson could be a shortstop, but the senior was always told he would never play.
But in game seven of the Chapel Hill Regional, all those doubts were silenced.
No. 1 seed UNC’s middle infield — a stalwart of the team all season — delivered game-changing hits in Monday’s thrilling 4-3 win over No. 2 seed LSU to send the Tar Heels to the super regionals for the first time since 2022. Wilkerson and Madera’s RBI singles in the ninth and 10th innings helped UNC rally from a one-run deficit to earn the regional championship.
“That's what makes college baseball so awesome,” head coach Scott Forbessaid.
With the Tar Heels down 3-2 entering the ninth inning and the 7-8-9 hitters due up, the bottom of the order needed to come through. First-year third baseman Gavin Gallaher did his job, rocketing a double down the left field line to set the table for Madera and Wilkerson.
Madera would have to wait one more inning for his time to come. On a 1-2 pitch, he sent a bunt down the third base line that came within inches of hitting the bag. But the ball skirted foul though and UNC was left with one out.
UNC graduate infielder Alex Madera (1) hits the ball during the NCAA Chapel Hill regional game against LSU on Monday, June 3, 2024.
“I didn't get the bunt down,” Madera said. “I came back in the dugout, and all the guys were like, ‘Colby's going to pick you up. Colby's going to pick you up.’”
And they were right. Wilkerson battled, falling behind 0-2 quickly before working the count back to even. Then on pitch eight of the at-bat, Wilkerson punched a 94 mph fastball in on the hands to left field.
It looped in. Tied game.
“I sat down and just took a deep breath,” Wilkerson said. “[I] looked around for a little bit, came up to the plate, and once I got in the box, I wasn't worried.”
The moment for Wilkerson did not come easy. Silencing the doubters comes with putting in the work. Forbes was on him every single day, challenging him to get in the weight room and become the great offensive player that he knew he could be.
Four years of non-stop work all came to fruition when his team needed him the most.
“He was a string bean when he got here,” Forbes said. “He's worked really hard in that weight room and that was fun to see because he couldn't do that — maybe last year he wasn't quite strong enough. And with those guys, you gotta be able to choke up and get that bat head out, and he was able to do it. He's had a lot of big hits for us.”
In the tenth, it was Wilkerson’s middle infield partner’s time for the limelight. When he returned to the dugout after the missed bunt, Madera was reminded by his teammates that he would get another big at-bat.
As he strolled to the batter’s box in the first extra inning, his at-bat would soon become one of the biggest at-bats of his life. With two outs, the leading run stood on second base in the form of senior pinch runner Jackson Van De Brake.
Like Wilkerson, Madera had to battle, but on a 3-2 pitch, Madera sold out on a fastball and jumped on a 94 MPH pitch up the middle. Van De Brake rounded third, and Boshamer Stadium became as loud as Forbes ever heard.
Madera — who could only dream of this moment a year ago in Division III — proved that he belonged yet again.
“There's nothing like it,” Madera said. “Obviously [at] a small Division III school, you're playing in front of maybe 100, 200 people max, all families mainly. Nobody's really getting into it that much. And, I mean, just to hear [the fans] tonight, it was incredible.”
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Madera and Wilkerson have symbolized a team that feels they have been doubted all year. With the win on Sunday, the Tar Heels defeated the reigning national champions whom many thought would upset the No. 4 national seed.
UNC senior infielder Colby Wilkerson (3) runs up to third base during the NCAA Chapel Hill regional game against LSU on Monday, June 3, 2024.
As UNC prepares for the Chapel Hill Super Regional against West Virginia next weekend, its middle infield will continue to anchor the lineup. The duo have made their career on silencing the doubters, and Forbes is not hesitant to give them their praise.
“That's as good of a middle infield as we've ever had here.”
