NCAA Super Regional: Three reasons UNC lost game two

UPDATE: Game three of the Chapel Hill Super Regional has been postponed from its previous 7 p.m. start time Monday and will be played at noon on Tuesday.

The outcome of a game can’t be attributed to one or two plays, but here’s three of the more important reasons why the top-seeded North Carolina baseball team was shut out and lost game two of its Super Regional against South Carolina 8-0.

Three reasons UNC lost

1. Hitting with a deficit
Though Saturday the Tar Heels responded to the Gamecocks’ quick start with a quick response of their own, UNC didn’t have any luck at the plate in game two, barely getting more hits than South Carolina had errors.

And that had to do with the man on the mound, left-hander Jordan Montgomery, who allowed just four hits in a complete-game shutout — his first of the season.

From leadoff man Chaz Frank to No. 9-hole hitter Parks Jordan, the Tar Heels struggled to get hits early on, forcing them into a 5-0 deficit after two innings.

“It doesn’t matter how resilient you are if that guy out there on the mound is making pitches like (Montgomery) was today,” coach Mike Fox said. “Our kids weren’t quitting. He was just beating us.”

2. UNC’s starting pitching
Coming into the Chapel Hill Super Regional, starting pitcher Hobbs Johnson hadn’t given up a hit since the 18-inning game against N.C. State in the ACC tournament.

But against the Gamecocks on Sunday, Johnson wasn’t just hittable — he was giving up walks, too. Giving up five hits and walking three batters, Johnson allowed five earned runs in just 1.2 innings of work — his shortest start of the season.

Johnson said he felt confident coming into the game and added that he thought, if he had a solid outing, he’d give UNC a chance to win.

“I didn’t make the pitches I needed to,” Johnson said. “It was frustrating. That’s probably the hardest I’ve ever been hit in my career.”

2. Walks and steals
Johnson wasn’t the only person walking batters, though. Between the five UNC pitchers that saw time on the mound, nine Gamecocks batters were walked.

And when the runners found their way on base, they were taking full advantage of their opportunity to get into scoring position. With five steals, the Gamecock runners put pressure on UNC’s pitchers.

Center fielder Tanner English had three of those steals on his own, and he also showcased his athleticism with a diving catch in the ninth-inning to take an extra-base hit away from Skye Bolt.

Three things to watch for Monday

The bullpen
In game two, the Tar Heels used six pitchers, and in game one they used five. Fox has prided himself in his team’s pitching depth all year, and with so many pitchers being used lately, it’ll be interesting to see how the Tar Heels’ pitching staff holds up.

But because the Tar Heels didn’t pitch their usual late-inning relievers — Chris McCue and Trent Thornton — Fox said he isn’t worried about the possibility of having an overworked pitching staff.

“We didn’t use a number of guys today,” Fox said. “That’s where you’ve got to look at the silver lining.”

Benton Moss
Sophomore Benton Moss has had a less-than-stellar last couple of outings. In UNC’s regional the righty gave up three runs on six hits in his start against Canisius and only faced two batters — giving up a grand slam to one of them — against Florida Atlantic in an elimination game Monday.

If the Tar Heels are going to win and go to Omaha, it’s going to have to start with Moss on the mound.

UNC’s catchers
With Matt Roberts out due to injury, junior Brian Holberton has started the past two games at catcher, but after the Gamecocks stole five bases in game two, Fox replaced Holberton for freshman Korey Dunbar.

Fox said he was just moving Holberton out from behind the plate to give him rest for game three, but if the Gamecocks steal a few bases early on Monday, Fox may be forced to move Dunbar in at catcher again.