No. 1 seed Diamond Heels fall, 8-4, to No. 2 seed LSU in Chapel Hill Regional

After struggling offensively all evening, the No. 1 seed North Carolina Diamond Heels fell to No. 2 seed LSU, 8-4, on Sunday night, forcing a winner-take-all game seven in the Chapel Hill Regional. 

North Carolina started the game going three up, three down against LSU starting pitcher Thatcher Hurd. In the bottom of the inning, LSU’s Josh Pearson hit a two-run jack to right center field with two outs, putting the Tigers up 2-0 early. 

In the top of the second, the Tar Heels went three up, three down again as Hurd tallied two strikeouts in the frame. After advancing a runner to second in the bottom of the second inning, UNC junior starting pitcher Aidan Haugh was able to get out of the inning following a pop fly. 

North Carolina had its third consecutive 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout, groundout and fly out. The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the third inning with a two out single to shallow right field that fell just in front of graduate right fielder Anthony Donofrio’s glove as he attempted to make a diving grab. Haugh was able to prevent any more damage, forcing a foul out to first-year third baseman Gavin Gallaher. 

With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, senior first baseman Parks Harber doubled down the right field line for his first hit of the weekend and UNC’s first hit of the night. On the next at bat, Donofrio singled to right field to bring Harber home, cutting the LSU lead to 3-1.

“I think it’s just part of our character as a team, just resilient, tough,” Harber said. “And you saw it tonight.”

Senior designated hitter Alberto Osuna then singled to left field to advance runners to first and second, however first-year catcher Luke Stevenson struck out, leaving Donofrio and Osuna stranded. 

To start the bottom of the frame, LSU advanced runners to second and third with no outs, and then loaded the bases after the second consecutive walk by sophomore pitcher Kyle Percival, who was then replaced by senior pitcher Connor Bovair.

Junior Tommy White then smacked a single to right field to restore the three run lead for the Tigers. LSU then drove in two more runs as first-year Steven Milam singled through the right side, extending the Tiger lead to 6-1. After another walk, LSU grounded into a double play but was still able to bring a runner home, taking a 7-1 lead before a pop out ended the inning. 

After another 1-2-3 inning for the Tar Heels, Hayden Travinski extended the LSU lead with a solo shot to left center field. In the top of the sixth, Harber once again doubled with two outs, who then advanced to third on a passed ball and then scored on another passed ball. 

Then, Donofrio singled to first base, followed by Osuna singling up the middle to advance runners to the corners. After a pitching change for LSU, Stevenson was walked to load the bases, however, Gallaher struck out to end the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the frame, the Tigers advanced runners to first and second and sophomore pitcher Cameron Padgett replaced Bovair to escape the jam. 

To start the seventh, both graduate second baseman Alex Madera and senior shortstop Colby Wilkerson were walked. With two outs, the Tar Heels loaded the bases again after Harber was hit by a pitch. Donofrio then singled down the left field line to plate two runs and cut the LSU lead to 8-4 before Osuna popped to end the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the frame, LSU went three up, three down. 

“We wanted to grind out as many at bats as we could, I thought we did a really good job. Unfortunately, we didn’t get maybe the big hit tonight,” Harber said. “But that’s baseball sometimes, so that’s just gonna motivate us for tomorrow.”

Stevenson started the eighth inning with a leadoff single up the middle. Gallaher and Madera then both struck out looking, followed by Wilkerson being walked. With two on and two outs, junior center fielder Vance Honeycutt struck out looking to end the top half of the frame. In the bottom of the inning, the Tar Heels turned a double play to end the inning, holding the Tigers scoreless. 

In the ninth, North Carolina got runners to first and second with one out, and runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Osuna was then walked to load the bases for the Tar Heels. After Stevenson struck out swinging, Gallaher hit a deep flyout to left field, and UNC’s comeback attempt fell short, losing 8-4 to LSU. 

“I tell you what, we had some opportunities,” head coach Scott Forbes said. “If we hit a ball in the gap, the game’s a game of inches. Gavin right there at the end is a really good swing, just barely under it. That’s what makes baseball what it is.”

The Diamond Heels will face the Tigers again on Monday evening at 6 p.m. with the winner advancing to super regionals next week. 

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