North Carolina coach Mike Fox just wanted a good start.
On Sunday, Fox said a good performance from freshman right-handed pitcher Benton Moss would be one of the keys to taking the all-tied-up series from N.C. State.
But on Monday, Moss took the mound and gave what Fox called a “slow as molasses” performance for just 2.1 innings.
His early departure matched that of Sunday’s starter Chris Munnelly, who lasted 2 innings, but soon made way for the star of UNC’s defensive effort in the series win against N.C. State — its bullpen.
“We knew going into the season that that was going to be our strength,” catcher Jacob Stallings said. “We felt like the best part of our team would be our bullpen and the depth that we have out there.”
While the Tar Heels struggled to plate runners on offense until Monday’s grand slam and two-run homer performance, their relief pitchers provided a solid safety net throughout the series.
“I still think the game (Monday) was won pitching-wise,” Fox said. “And I think we’re going to have to win a lot of games that way. You look up on the line score and you usually don’t win when you make five hits and make three errors, except you have to go to that pitching column and see how many earned runs you gave up.”
In Monday’s 7-4 series clincher, the earned run column carried just one, after reliever R.C. Orlan gave up a triple in the sixth inning that eventually led to a Wolfpack score.
Until that run, the Tar Heels’ bullpen hadn’t given up a run, earned or unearned, all weekend long in 12.2 innings of total work.