Missed Calls, Opportunities Define Tar Heels' Regional Loss to VCU

Scott Forbes ejected, suspended 2 games

Photo courtesy of Joe Bray

From its great start, midseason slump and incredible finish to the regular season, to its five walk-off wins, four walk-off losses and a bomb threat, it felt as if this North Carolina squad had seen it all coming into the NCAA Tournament.

Saturday brought a few more wild moments, though, as a pair of questionable umpire decisions, Scott Forbes’ ejection and the Tar Heels’ repeated failures with runners on base defined a 4-3 loss to VCU in the Chapel Hill Regional winners bracket.

Despite making a late run — thanks to an eighth-inning solo home run by Vance Honeycutt and a two-run, ninth-inning blast by Danny Serretti — UNC couldn’t get much going offensively against the Rams, going 4-for-17 with runners on base and 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Tar Heels stranded 12 runners.

Most of UNC’s struggles were self-induced, but two early calls loomed large over the game. The first came with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the second, when Tomas Frick slid into second on a potential double-play ball and was called for runner interference. Had it not been called, Johnny Castagnozzi would’ve been safe at first and a run would’ve scored.

An inning later, Serretti lofted a popup behind the mound that second baseman Marcus O’Malley dropped before picking the ball up and initiating an inning-ending double play. Forbes was eventually ejected for protesting that an infield-fly rule wasn’t called. After the game, the NCAA suspended Forbes two games.

Pat James @patjames24

Here's the popup from the third inning of tonight's UNC-VCU game that resulted in a 4-6-5 double play and led to Scott Forbes' subsequent ejection and two-game suspension.

UNC now has to win three consecutive games to advance to a super regional, beginning with Sunday’s 1 p.m. elimination game against Georgia with Will Sandy as the starting pitcher. Should the Tar Heels beat the Bulldogs, they’ll play VCU at 6 p.m. Sunday, needing to win that game and defeat the Rams again at 6 p.m. Monday. Since the implementation of the current NCAA Tournament format in 1999, UNC has never advanced to a super regional out of the losers bracket.

Following Saturday’s game, assistant head coach Bryant Gaines, starting pitcher Brandon Schaeffer (5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) and Frick spoke with media. Here’s what they had to say.

Bryant Gaines

Opening statement

First of all, you’ve got to give VCU credit. I thought they played extremely hard today, made pitches when they needed to and outlasted us there at the end. But I am also really, really proud of our guys. We fought to the bitter end. Unfortunately, we had some things not go our way over the course of the game, but at the end of the day we’ll have to bounce back and be better tomorrow.

How was it explained to you in terms of the the no-call on the infield fly/possible infield fly?

Honestly, I didn’t get much of an explanation at all about it. As soon as all that stuff happened, we just had to move on. I had to just focus on what was getting ready to happen next. I’m not really exactly sure what was said in regard to that.

In a game like that where things don’t break your way, how do you go about trying to circle the wagons, especially with Coach Forbes getting ejected too?

We’ve been through a lot of difficult games and situations and circumstances over the course of the year, so I thought our guys did a really good job responding to all that. I think that’s why we made it really close at the end, because we’ve been through those situations before and I felt like — and I know our players still felt like — we were going to win the game until the last out. Just got to move on quickly. I thought we did a pretty good job of that.

From an offensive standpoint, it’s not like you weren’t getting guys on base. … How frustrating is that after the offensive performance you had (Friday)?

We had opportunities. Unfortunately, we couldn’t quite capitalize on it tonight. I think that’s why we felt so good there at the end of the game — even with two outs. Unfortunately, that’s the way baseball is at times. We have a good feeling tomorrow the breaks will end up going our way.

Did you feel like (Forbes) was almost warranted in objecting the way that he did?

We were all confused as to what exactly was going on. I thought he was; I thought he had a very viable argument. Unfortunately, the umpires just didn’t see it that way. It’s unfortunate, but at the same time, it was just part of it tonight. It was just one of those things.

Photo courtesy of Joe Bray

Brandon Schaeffer

Do you feel like you could have gone an inning or two more? How did you feel when you came out?

I felt good. It was a better matchup bringing Gage into that situation. It’s whatever is best on the mound. That’s just how we do it.

You guys haven’t lost a game in a long time. How’s the mood in the locker room right now, with this being so close and knowing what you need to do to keep your season alive now?

It stings a little bit, for sure, but we’re not done. I think everybody knows that. VCU is a good team and they came out and played a good game tonight. But I think it speaks to this team, the fact that we were able to come back the way we did and make it a game at the end. I know there is a lot of fight in this team and a lot of grit in these guys and these coaches. I’m excited to see what we are going to do tomorrow.

Photo courtesy of Joe Bray

Tomas Frick

What did (Schaeffer) have working today?

He can throw every pitch with command. I thought he worked both sides of the plate very well and kept them off balance. When we got those counts we were ahead in, he executed off-speed and stuff. I thought he had his stuff on.

You guys had two runners on in the second inning, and you slid into second and it turned into a double play with that interference call. What was going through your head in that moment?

The ball was hit softly and I was going hard into second; I thought I had a chance. Maybe I got out (of the base paths) and maybe him hitting me in the head and our colliding maybe pushed me out to the side a little bit from their eye. I felt like I was going hard and directly into the bag. It didn’t affect us that much. The momentum kind of went to their side. It was the (second) inning, so we knew we were going to bounce back and stay positive.

What’s the mentality as you quickly put this one behind you and get ready for (Sunday’s) game and potentially a doubleheader?

First of all, recovery is the biggest thing. We know we’ve got to play one game at a time. We’re going to come out with some energy tomorrow, I’ll tell you that, because we know we’re not done and we feel very confident that we’re going to play our best baseball tomorrow.

Were you surprised about the interference call? Were you OK after (getting kneed in the head)?

It stung me a little bit, but I really did think I was just going hard straight into the bag. It didn’t come out that way. I was a little stunned after it, a little shaken up.