UNC-Charlotte - 2
UNC - 1
With just two swings of Ryan Rivers' bat No. 5 North Carolina fell to UNC-Charlotte 2-1 in a game as dreary as the Wednesday afternoon rain.
The UNC-Charlotte first baseman Rivers opened things up in the second inning with a solo home run off sophomore Ryan Leach who made his first career start.
Rivers also provided the winning margin with a second solo homer in his next at-bat in the fourth inning" and UNC (18-5) couldn't get any type of offensive production to overcome the two-run lead.
""We didn't make much go right"" coach Mike Fox said. We were as stubborn offensively as I've ever seen us.""
The Tar Heels came out flat" with just one hit in the first five innings and only three for the game.
Even though the UNC pitching staff held Charlotte (14-6) to just the two scores on six hits" the Tar Heels couldn't put runs on the board.
""I can't say enough about our pitchers" Fox said. They only got six hits" and the kid hit two home runs. But we've got to be able to overcome that.""
The Tar Heels' only bright spot came from Tarron Robinson"" who sent his first-ever home run over the right-field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning.
""It's going to mean a lot looking back" but right now it stings because it didn't affect the outcome of the game Robinson said.
It's my first one" I'm going to remember it. But I'm also going to remember that we lost.""
Following Robinson's solo shot" the Tar Heels loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter.
But with two outs" Kyle Seager grounded to the shortstop and the rally stopped there. UNC managed to get only one batter on base for the rest of the game when Dustin Ackley walked in the bottom of the ninth.
""We just didn't have any energy"" Fox said. We were flat.""
Fox also was quick to dismiss any theory that the quick turnaround from an away game at UNC-Wilmington had any effect.
""That shouldn't be a factor" Fox said. I'm sorry" but I'm not going to take responsibility because we're playing back-to-back games.
""That's no excuse. … My assumption is that the guys are going to be ready to play.""
Levi Michael" who currently leads UNC in home runs with nine as a freshman" had to sit out the final at-bat because his arm was injured after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning.
""Levi couldn't hit. He could barely raise his arm" Fox said. He wanted to stay in there but after I watched him defensively for a couple of innings" I knew he couldn't swing.""
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