Diamond Heels tie up series against Miami with 9-8 win

In a game postponed during the seventh inning due to rain, the No. 13 North Carolina baseball team (24-11, 9-6) defeated Miami 9-8 in the second of the teams’ three-game series.

What happened?

Junior pitcher Connor Bovair allowed just two hits in the top of the first inning, but the Tar Heels still allowed Miami to score three runs. In the second inning, UNC tightened the screws and allowed zero hits or runs, but its batting couldn’t keep pace. The Tar Heels trailed Miami 3-0 at the end of the second inning. 

Junior infielder Colby Wilkerson put UNC on the board in the third inning by batting in first-year infielder Austin Hawke for a run, but the Tar Heels gave up another three runs in the inning, putting them behind by five runs going into the fourth inning.  

UNC’s pitching and fielding regained its footing in the fourth inning, allowing no runs or hits. Then, junior first baseman Hunter Stokely hit his second home run of the series in the bottom of the inning with a runner on base to trim Miami’s lead to three runs. 

The Tar Heels got hot at bat in the sixth inning. Hawke got the Tar Heels’ scoring spree started, batting in junior catcher Tomas Frick to trim Miami’s lead to two runs. A triple later in the inning from first-year infielder Casey Cook allowed Hawke and junior infielder Johnny Castagnozzi to score runs. A run from Cook, thanks to a double by junior infielder Mac Horvath, gave UNC its first lead of the game going into the seventh inning. 

Before a rain delay, the Tar Heels gave up a run in the top of the seventh inning, which tied the score at seven. The Tar Heels kept the Hurricanes scoreless after the rain delay and went into the eighth inning tied at seven.  

After a scoreless eighth inning, graduate pitcher Kevin Eaise and UNC’s fielding held Miami scoreless. But the Tar Heels couldn’t come up with a run of their own to put the game away, so they went to the tenth in tied at seven. 

UNC allowed a home run at the top of the tenth inning, which put Miami ahead 8-7 heading into the bottom of the inning. But Cook saved his second-career home run for one of this game’s biggest moments, tying the game at eight. Stokely closed the game out in the bottom of the eleventh inning with a walk-off home run. 

Who stood out? 

Cook made two of the game’s most important plays. In the sixth inning, he hit a triple that allowed two Tar Heels to score and put himself in scoring position. Cook would later score a run that put UNC ahead in that inning 7-6, the team’s first lead of the game. Then, in the tenth inning down one with two outs, Cook hit a home run to tie the game at eight and send it to an eleventh inning. Cook’s final stat line was three hits, two runs, three RBIs, two putouts and a home run. 

First-year pitcher Cameron Padgett also made a significant contribution, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out three batters in just over three innings. 

When was it decided?

It was either teams’ game to win heading into the ninth inning, with the score tied at seven. But neither team could break the stalemate, so the game went into a tenth inning. After a run from each team in the tenth inning, Stokely’s walk-off home run gave UNC the 9-8 victory.  

Why does it matter?

Winning this game ties the weekend series between UNC and Miami, which gives the Tar Heels a chance to take the series in the afternoon's second game. The win also keeps them from falling to just a game over .500 in conference play, which is critical with tough matchups against Boston College and NC State on the horizon. 

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels’ next game is today against Miami at 3:30. 

@CooperMetts

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