The Game Of His Life

Hobbs Johnson did what he had to do. He pitched the game of his life against NC State, leading the Tarheels to a 7-0 victory. He pitched a career best 8 1/3 innings, throwing 132 pitches, all of them fastballs. He gave up 5 hits, 0 runs, struck out 6, and walked 2. Reliever Chris McCue came in to get the final two outs on three pitches. Shortstop Michael Russell drove in the 'Heels first run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 4th inning and two more in the 8th inning, helping the 'Heels to close the door with a four run 8th. Colin Moran went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's. The Tarheels as a team had six RBI's with two outs. That is the kind of clutch hitting and pitching the 'Heels need to finish out the tournament and bring the College World Series trophy home. UCLA is up next.

Staying Alive

To use the Bee Gees song from the disco era from the 1970's the Tarheels stayed alive in the losers bracket of the College World Series with a 4-2 win over LSU the other day. Their reward is a rematch with the NC State Wolfpack who gave them an 8-1 thumping in the opening game of the College World Series for the Tarheels. Whenever you are in the losers bracket, that is the key is staying alive whether it be winning big, winning close, or winning ugly. The Tarheels are rolling out Hobbs Johnson to start this game but the entire pitching staff will be on call. If the Tarheels are to close out the World Series, they will be playing 6 games in 7 days. That puts a lot of stress on a pitching staff and some of the Tarheels starters are going to have to come up with some big performances.