In the Chapel Hill Regional final on Monday night, North Carolina tied the game in the ninth inning and then plated the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to pull out a 4-3 victory over LSU.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
North Carolina started the game with three straight singles off LSU starter Sam Dutton. After a single to center field by Parks Harber to load the bases, Tigers skipper Jay Johnson pulled Dutton for Javen Coleman.
That didn’t help as Coleman walked Anthony Donofrio on only four pitches to bring home a run but did get Alberto Osuna to ground out into a double play but another run scored.
LSU led off their frame with a hit as Tommy White hit a single up the middle and then advanced to second base two batters later when Jared Jones was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch would advance both runners into scoring position. UNC’s Jason DeGaro got Josh Pearson to ground out but White managed to score.
North Carolina threatened again in the second as Coleman put two on by walking one hitter and hitting another. That forced Johnson to make another pitching change this time pulling Coleman for Will Hellmers. Despite loading the bases with a walked batter, the Tiger reliever got out of the jam.
LSU tied the game in the bottom of the frame as Jake Brown hit a two-out solo home run. The Tigers then took the lead in the bottom of the third after Jones hit a two-out home run.
UNC appeared to have a chance to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Alex Madera led off with a single to right field but Hellmers would get the next two hitters to ground out and then get a fly out.
In the top of the eighth, UNC led off the inning with Hellmers walking Harber which prompted Johnson to pull him for Nate Ackenhausen. He came in and struck out Donofrio, Osuna, and Johnny Castagnozzi to end the threat.
Gage Jump came in the ninth to close the deal but gave up a double to Gavin Gallaher to lead off the inning. After getting Madera to strike out, Jump then gave up a single to left field to bring home the tying run. Jump did get the next two batters out but the Tar Heels had tied the game.
LSU put a runner on the bottom of the ninth as Hayden Travinski hit a one-out single but the next two Tigers flied out and struck out.
After getting the first two batters out in the top of the tenth, Castagnozzi reached on a fielding error by Jake Brown and then advanced to second. Jump then intentionally walked Gallaher and gave up a single to Madera that brought home the go-ahead run.
LSU was down to its final three outs and White and Steven Milam both quickly flied out. Jones drew a walk to put the tying run on with two outs but Pearson flied out to right field to end the game.
BIG NUMBER: 5
LSU’s lineup was held in check for the majority of the game. The Tigers did not record a single hit between the fourth and eighth innings, and only managed to record five total in the loss.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: WILL HELLMERS
LSU’s senior right-handed pitcher came into the game in relief and delivered for the Tigers. In 5 and 2/3 innings of work, the former Jesuit Blue Jay gave up no runs on two hits while striking out four.