After giving up three early runs, No. 12 UNC baseball rallies past Charlotte

Five batters. 

That’s all it took for UNC to find themselves down against UNC Charlotte. 

And on Tuesday, down three runs heading into the bottom of the first inning, head coach Scott Forbes didn't say anything in particular to rally the team. In fact, he didn't say anything at all. 

“My message is to not say a word,” Forbes said. “Let them just keep playing. I’m big on that as a head coach, you just got to calm the storm, especially when things aren’t going perfect.” 

And Forbes’ patient approach paid off. North Carolina scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and nine in the first three innings. UNC never relinquished the lead again. 

No. 12 North Carolina battled back to beat Charlotte, 14-4, Tuesday night at Boshamer Stadium. Nine runs in the first three innings propelled the Diamond Heels to their third run-rule victory in the past four games. The scoring outburst was a microcosm of UNC’s new approach to the plate, with graduate shortstop Alex Madera leading the way, going 3-for-4 on the night. 

“We take a lot of pride in playing every pitch, not looking at the scoreboard," Forbes said. "It’s more about us than the opponent, understanding that that’s going to happen. At the end of the day, your best teams should be even better when their backs are against the wall.”

In the bottom of the first, junior center fielder Kane Kepley walked. Shortly after, sophomore designated hitter Luke Stevenson launched a ball over the trees in right field to bring the game within one. 

After graduate first baseman Hunter Stokely singled and sophomore third baseman Gavin Gallaher was hit by a pitch, the Tar Heels found themselves with two runners on base and down one run with two outs. 

Then, Madera stepped up to the plate. 

The shortstop hit a slow roller down the first base line but hustled to beat out the throw, scoring Stokely from third to tie the game for UNC, 3-3. 

“I think offensively, trying to have quality at-bats, not trying to do too much at the plate,” Madera said. “I feel like, like Coach Forbes said, we were pressing a little bit at that little stretch throughout the year. But we just kept working, and I feel like everybody is just trying to have a quality at-bat and not chase out of the zone.” 

This approach has allowed UNC to score 45 runs over the last four games — the most over any four game stretch this season. 

Of the 45 runs, 24 have come in the first three innings.

“It’s just the at-bats,” Madera said. “Obviously [assistant] Coach [Jesse] Wierzbicki and [assistant] Coach [Scott] Jackson, they give us great scouting reports. So, just trusting them and just going up there knowing what you’re looking for, I think that helps so much.”

For a North Carolina team that had struggled with hitting entering the weekend, the continued hot streak at the plate could be a sign that those woes are behind them.

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