No. 17 UNC baseball falls, 5-1, to UConn in midweek matchup

The No. 17 North Carolina baseball team (16-5, 2-4 ACC) fell, 5-1, to the UConn Huskies (7-11, 0-0 Big East) Thursday evening at Boshamer Stadium. 

Despite a first-pitch home run by junior right fielder Kane Kepley, the Tar Heels’ offense couldn’t turn any of their hits into scoring opportunities. The Huskies' defense hindered UNC’s chances to get anything going, taking away any opportunity to have multiple runners on base. UNC’s pitching also struggled to keep the Huskies off base and defensive mishaps early led to scoring opportunities for the Huskies. 

“I think we have a lot of leadership," head coach Scott Forbes said. "We just haven’t been playing well.”

North Carolina started off strong with a leadoff first-pitch home run from Kepley, his first of the season. Senior second baseman Jackson Van De Brake followed with a single, but scoring stopped there following a double play and strikeout to end the first.

The Huskies’ offense quickly countered, with the first five batters reaching base and scoring two runs on a single from Bryan Padilla. UNC executed a double play to record the first two outs, and junior pitcher Cameron Padgett settled in to earn the final out, holding the score to 2-1 Huskies after the top of the second inning. 

Despite a lead-off walk from sophomore third baseman Gavin Gallaher and a series of at-bats that helped advance him to third base, the Tar Heels couldn’t cash in the game-tying run and came up empty in the bottom of the second inning. 

The Huskie offense continued their hit party, starting the third inning off with two singles, forcing a UNC pitching change. First-year pitcher Camron Seagraves struggled to limit the damage, giving up two runs on a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk.

North Carolina didn’t waste any time before changing pitchers once again. Sophomore pitcher Folger Boaz escaped the bases-loaded situation, recording the final two outs while only giving up one run, keeping the score 5-1. 

Even though the Tar Heels had some traffic on the bases, they failed to score runs, maintaining the 5-1 deficit after three innings. 

The pitchers settled in, leaving both teams scoreless for four innings.

The bats showed signs of life in the bottom of the eighth, with North Carolina loading the bases and putting the potential tying run at the plate. But with two outs, it failed to produce any runs from the opportunity. 

The Huskies also threatened to add to their lead in the ninth with the bases loaded, but a play at the plate cost the Huskies a run and their third out. 

North Carolina had chances but failed to make anything happen in the bottom of the ninth, resulting in the 5-1 loss. 

 “I believe in staying positive,” Forbes said. “Every day is a new day."

The Tar Heels return to action Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. against Boston College at Harrington Athletics Village in Brighton, Mass.

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