UNC barely avoids 'cane sweep

North Carolina had put itself in position to win, to salvage a single victory from a series in which its pitchers couldn’t find the strike zone and its fielders couldn’t find the ball.

But despite a sensational effort from relief pitcher Matt Danford and timely contributions from hitters up and down the lineup Sunday, the No. 7 Tar Heels ran out of time — literally.

Miami’s travel schedule forced both teams to agree on a self-imposed curfew — no inning would begin after 4:15 p.m., and though the score was 7-7 after 10 innings, that’s the way the game ended.

“It’s disappointing,” said UNC coach Mike Fox. “We had a chance to win the game, and we probably should have won the game.”

The bizarre end to the series finale overshadowed a weekend in which the No. 9 Hurricanes pounded just about every North Carolina pitcher it faced through two games.

And if Danford — normally the team’s closer — hadn’t quelled the storm in the middle innings of Sunday’s game, UNC (28-8-1, 11-4-1 in the ACC) likely would have been swept in their own building.

BASEBALL Miami 7 UNC 7 Miami 18 UNC 9 Miami 17 UNC 7

“We’re a little frustrated,” said Tar Heel designated hitter Matt Ellington. “It was an emotional weekend for all of us.”

Andrew Miller, who entered the weekend with a 1.10 ERA, lasted just 2 1/3 innings Friday and allowed seven earned runs on three hits and eight walks as the Hurricanes (29-9-1, 13-4-1) cruised to a 17-7 victory.

Daniel Bard didn’t fare much better Saturday, as he allowed five earned runs on four hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings, and Miami ran the final score to 18-9.

“(Bard and Miller) got themselves behind in counts,” said Hurricane coach Jim Morris. “They’ve got great stuff, and both of them are great pitchers, but you can’t pitch that way.”

But for the first three innings of Sunday’s game, it looked as though UNC starter Adam Kalkhof had discovered the secret. He allowed a first-inning run on a sacrifice fly, but he didn’t allow his first hit until third baseman Ryan Braun doubled in the top of the fourth.

In the meantime, back-to-back home runs in the third inning from Justin Webb and Ellington staked the Tar Heels to a 4-1 lead.

But that’s when their run of success ran out.

The Braun double knocked in Paco Figueroa, who had walked, and Miami hitters strung together a walk and two singles to drive Kalkhof from the game.

Danford then entered and allowed single runs in the fifth and the sixth before settling down. He threw a season-high 6 1/3 innings.

The Tar Heels rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Seth Williams led off the inning with a home run to left field, and a Webb sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Ellington gave the Tar Heels a 7-6 lead.

The score held until the ninth.

Danford hit Miami center fielder Danny Figueroa with his second pitch of the inning, and Figueroa took first base.

Fox argued briefly that Figueroa hadn’t made an effort to avoid the pitch, but to no avail.

“It’s a point of emphasis this year in the rule book,” Fox said. “I thought it was close.”

Paco Figueroa followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance his twin brother to second, and Braun hit a grounder to shortstop to send Danny Figueroa to third.

Danford ran the count to 0-2 against left fielder John Jay and threw a breaking ball that missed high — barely.

“It’s breaking down by the time the catcher catches it, so it may appear as a strike, but I think the umpire made the correct call,” Danford said.

Jay then ripped a ground ball through the legs of third baseman Reid Fronk to score Figueroa with the tying run.

And when neither team could push across a run in one extra inning before the curfew ended play, the game ended in a tie.

The result left both sides dissatisfied, particularly a North Carolina team that had the Hurricanes down to their final strike in the ninth.

Fox was asked point-blank if he thought Danford’s 0-2 curve had won his team the game.

“Yes,” he said.

His wry smile said the rest.

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.