Tar Heels' Losing Skid Continues in Series Sweep at Virginia
Once 18-3, UNC has dropped five straight series
For a moment Saturday, however brief, North Carolina appeared to be in control.
Trailing Virginia 4-3 entering the top of the ninth, Alberto Osuna launched a first-pitch cutter over the left-center-field wall for a 461-foot, game-tying home run. The Tar Heels then went on to send the game into extra innings, where they exploded for three runs in the 10th to seize a 7-4 lead and put themselves in prime position to even the series after a 4-2 loss Friday. Just as quickly as they rallied, though, they fell apart.
After pulling within two runs on a sacrifice fly that represented the second out in the bottom of the 10th, the Cavaliers drew a walk and notched back-to-back singles to tie the game at 7. Devin Ortiz then came to the plate moments later and hit a grand slam, handing UNC a stunning 11-7 defeat.
At the time, the walk-off loss marked the Tar Heels’ fourth in their last six road games. It also proved to be too much for them to overcome in Sunday’s series finale, as Virginia pounced for seven runs in the first two innings en route to a 10-3 victory.
In dropping all three games, UNC (23-17, 8-13 ACC) has lost five straight series for the first time since it started regularly playing three-game weekend series in 1990. The Tar Heels are 5-14 since that streak began on March 25 at Miami, and after opening the season with an 18-3 record, they find themselves in danger of missing the postseason.
Carlson, Schaeffer deliver
Adding to the disappointment of the sweep, UNC was unable to capitalize on the best back-to-back starting pitching performances it has received all season.
Making his third straight Friday start, Max Carlson showed just why the coaches put him in the role, giving up three runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. The sophomore once again allowed too many free passes, issuing four walks to bring his total to 14 over his last four games. He mostly worked around them, though, to turn in the longest start by any Tar Heel this season.
On Saturday, Brandon Schaeffer picked up where he left off against Georgia Tech, giving up three runs on seven hits across five innings. The lefty struck out three and walked zero, and now has an 8:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 18 innings over his last five games (three starts).
Even with Carlson and Schaeffer’s outings, UNC starters have logged just 11 starts of five or more innings in 40 games this season.
Bullpen usage
After Schaeffer left Saturday’s game with no outs and runners on first and second in the sixth, Virginia took a 3-2 lead on RBI singles off Kyle Mott and Shawn Rapp, who combined for one inning of work. The Tar Heels responded with a run of their own in the next frame, tying the score at 3. At that point, UNC brought in Davis Palermo.
The decision to call on Palermo in the seventh was a bit surprising considering head coach Scott Forbes named him the team’s closer after his three-inning save against Campbell on Tuesday. Perhaps most intriguing, Palermo was pulled after giving up one run (unearned) in one inning. That move loomed large as the Tar Heels cycled through four more pitchers before surrendering seven runs in the 10th.
Missed opportunities
UNC entered the weekend averaging 8.6 runs over its last eight games. The Cavaliers mostly held the Tar Heels’ seemingly burgeoning lineup in check, though, allowing 12 total runs over the course of the series.
Virginia’s pitching staff – which entered the weekend ranked ninth nationally with a 3.40 ERA – performed well. But UNC also missed out on several opportunities, going 3-for-29 with runners in scoring position. That included a 2-for-14 effort Saturday.
Road woes
Following the sweep, the Tar Heels are 3-12 away from Boshamer Stadium this season and 12-29 over the last two years. That’s compared to a 39-15 home record in the same span. UNC – which, as of Sunday night, ranked No. 49 nationally in the RPI and No. 14 in strength of schedule, according to WarrenNolan.com – plays 10 of its last 14 regular-season games at the Bosh.
What’s next?
The Tar Heels will return home to face Liberty at 6 p.m. Tuesday before taking six days off for final exams. The preseason favorite in the ASUN Conference, the Flames (26-12) beat UNC, 1-0, in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 8.