'We ain't done yet': Diamond Heels look to bounce back after loss against Tennessee

OMAHA, Neb. — Following the Diamond Heels’ 6-1 loss to No. 1 Tennessee on Sunday, head coach Scott Forbes had one message for his team.

Move on.

The coach has been preaching a 24-hour rule all season. And after a loss in the Men’s College World Series, that timetable is only sped up.

The Tar Heels’ season did not end with the loss to Tennessee. It just made their road ahead more challenging. They have one day of rest before taking Charles Schwab Field with their seasons on the line against No. 8 Florida State. UNC will need to win three games in three days to earn their spot in the national championship.

“I just told them, ‘Keep your heads up,’” Forbes said. “Here at the College World Series, you have a great opportunity ahead of you. We'll get back, take a shower, turn your loops in, eat a meal together, get some sleep and get back to work tomorrow.”

It may be a challenge, but Forbes understands what it will take to overcome it. 

The Tar Heels were in a similar position in 2007 when Forbes was a pitching coach under former head coach Mike Fox. UNC fell in the winner’s bracket game against Rice before coming back and winning the next three games. 

To do it, the Tar Heels will need more production from their bats. The third-best scoring offense in the ACC has been struggling to drive in runs, accumulating just six in the last three games. When UNC made the turnaround in 2007, they scored 16 runs in their final three wins.

Senior first baseman Parks Harber said the Tar Heels need to keep doing what they’ve been doing all year and remain confident at the plate.

“Sometimes I feel like we have been on our heels recently,” Harber said. “And so we need to go out there aggressive and just let it all out there and just play with no regrets.”

UNC’s bats will need to keep up with the second-best offense in the ACC in Florida State. The Seminoles have been mashing through their first two games in the CWS, scoring eleven in a loss to Tennessee and seven in their win against No. 12 Virginia. They rank top ten in the nation in batting average and runs scored.

Forbes said junior pitcher Aidan Haugh will likely get the start on Tuesday against FSU. UNC’s typical Sunday starter has been struggling recently, allowing 12 earned runs in his last three starts. The head coach said he believes his pitching staff can get the job done against the dangerous Seminole lineup.

“We have the pitching I think to compete with Florida State, [and] that's all you can focus on right now,” Forbes said, later adding, “It’s a really good offensive lineup, and we'll take it pitch by pitch, and if we beat Florida State, then hopefully we'll have enough guys to compete against Tennessee again.”

Harber is keeping a steady mindset heading into the matchup against FSU. He said he won’t let the loss against Tennessee affect his experience playing in Omaha, which he described as the most fun he’s ever had playing baseball.

He plans to leave it all out on the field on Tuesday and play with a sense of gratitude for getting another opportunity to compete. 

Junior center fielder Vance Honeycutt is also entering the matchup with faith in his team. 

“We have all the confidence in our guys,” Honeycutt said. “So [we’re] just continuing to back them, and as [Harber] said, on Tuesday, we'll get it done.”

In the press conference following the loss against Tennessee, this assurance was conveyed by the players. Honeycutt cracked a joke. Neither seemed dejected.

And Forbes, like the message to his players, kept his statement to the media simple. 

“We lost. But we ain't done.”

@brendan_lunga18

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