A 'tiptoeing' UNC baseball strands 10 batters in loss to UConn

Graduate shortstop Alex Madera stepped up with bases loaded and two outs. 

UNC needed a spark, down 5-1 in the eighth inning.

Instead, Madera grounded out to second on the first pitch. The Diamond Heels exited the frame empty-handed.

The No. 17 UNC baseball team struggled to take advantage of offensive opportunities in a 5-1 loss to UConn on Wednesday night at Boshamer Stadium. North Carolina left 10 runners on base and the team's lone score came from a leadoff home run by junior center fielder Kane Kepley at the bottom of the first inning. After that, the Tar Heels struggled to convert. 

“Tonight, once we got down, we weren't the normal team that we're capable of being,” head coach Scott Forbes said. “We were focusing on the fact that we were down and focusing on the fact that we were struggling.”

Forbes said his team was "tiptoeing" after dropping a series against Louisville over the weekend. The Tar Heels have lost five of the last eight games following a 13-0 start and were rattled after losing to Stanford 7-0 at home last week. They've been uncertain ever since.  

This mindset shift bled into UNC's return to Boshamer Stadium against UConn. The Tar Heels couldn't find the right pockets in the Huskies' defense, with UConn first baseman Grant MacArthur tallying 15 putouts. 

Still, North Carolina reached the base seven times off walks, but each free trip was followed by a fly or ground ball for the easy out. The Huskies ended the day with 14 assists on 27 putouts. 

The Tar Heels couldn't string anything together until the bottom of the eighth. Three walks on 3-2 counts gave UNC an opportunity to score with bases loaded. But the moment was squandered.

“We just want to work on not going out of the zone,” Forbes said. “What happens when you're struggling, especially when you're in a scoring position, you're swinging at pitchers that are out of the zone and you can't do anything with the pitch out of the zone.”

The Tar Heels searched for another chance in the bottom of the ninth. Graduate right fielder Tyson Bass doubled to center field. But the momentum was halted once again after pinch hitter Sawyer Black lined out to first and designated hitter Perry Hargett struck out looking.

There was a brief glimmer of hope for UNC after Kepley walked. Then, senior second baseman Jackson Van De Brake fouled out to end the game. UNC left scoring opportunities on the table for the eighth inning in a row. 

“I never want defensive hitters, but I also want our guys to trust themselves with the strike zone,” Forbes said. “And know that if they go down looking because a guy made a great pitch, they're not going to hear much from me.”

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