Sweeping The Blue Devils

The North Carolina Tarheels beating the Duke Blue Devils in any sport is always a beautiful thing and it doesn't matter if the chess teams are facing off against each other. The Tarheels sweep of the Blue Devils in baseball this past weekend was an excellent example of baseball domination. The Tarheels outscored the Blue Devils 31-6 in the three game sweep and the Tarheels starting pitching trio of Zac Gallen, J.B. Bukauskas, and Jason Morgan- pithed a combined total of 20 innings and only gave up three earned runs while striking out 22 and walking eight.

The Tarheels offense scored 31 runs on only 29 hits but drew 22 walks and also took advantage of a shaky Blue Devil defense that made nine errors in the three games. Centerfielder Tyler Ramirez drove in eight runs in the series and shortstop Logan Warmoth drove in seven runs. North Henderson High School product Zack Gahagan has been key as a spot starter and a late inning defensive replacement at third base. He did his Best Brooks Robinson imitation in a game against Fairfield fielding a grounder deep behind the third base bag into foul territory and throwing out the runner at first. That play made the internet rounds.

The Diamond Heels ACC Opener

The Diamond Heels took on Pittsburgh's baseball counterpart in their ACC home opener as the Tarheels #1 starter Zac Gallen took the mound in the first of a three game series. The Tarheels took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning and erupted for eight runs to win going away 14-2. Gallen pitched eight innings, giving up four hits and one run, struck out eight while walking only one. It only took him 84 pitches to go through his eight innings. Ryder Ryan and Brett Daniels pitched the ninth inning, giving up Pittsburgh's other run.

The Tarheels offense was led by first baseman Brian Miller's three hits and four RBI's and catcher Cody Roberts drove in three runs. Eli Sutherland had three hits and two RBI's and center fielder Tyler Ramirez went three for three, scored twice, and drove in a run. Cole Gibbs entered the game as a pinch hitter and finished out the game in left field.

That was the Tarheels tenth straight win and they are now 11-1 on the season and 1-0 in the ACC. They have two more games left against Pittsburgh and are looking for their third straight weekend sweep.

A Walk Off Walk

The North Carolina Tarheels got another walk off win, this time against Fairfield, their fourth walk off win of the season in their seven wins. Eli Sutherland drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 13th inning to force in Tyler Lynn with the winning run. Lynn lead off the inning getting hit by a pitch, Cody Roberts singled and Ryder Ryan was intentionally walked to load the bases. The Tarheels tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning at three. Brian Miller hit a leadoff triple and scored on an RBI groundout by Adam Pate. Miller's head first slide to the outside of the plate barely got under the tag of Fairfield catcher Kevin Radziewicz.

Zac Gallen had another quality start but did not get the win. He went 7 2/3 innings, gave up five hits and two earned runs, struck out six, and did not issue a walk. Tarheels relief pitching was once again stellar. Hunter Williams, Spencer Trayner, and A.J. Bogucki went a combined 5 1/3 innings and only gave up one unearned run. Bogucki worked out of a bases loaded jam in the 11th inning and got the win.

A Walk Off Series

College baseball could not get any better than it did in the Oklahoma State-North Carolina series. Three games against nationally ranked Oklahoma State and three walk off wins by North Carolina. The first game in the series went extra innings and second baseman Kyle Datres won it with a double to the right centerfield gap. First baseman Brian Miller won game two with a bases loaded single. The Tarheels won game three in come-from-behind fashion when second baseman Eli Sutherland drove in two runs with a bases loaded single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The North Carolina Tarheels relief pitching was near perfect in the three game series. Only one Tarheels starter, Zac Gallen, pitched passed the fifth inning and then the Tarheels relievers took over. The Tarheels used six relief pitchers in the series and they pitched a combined 14 2/3 innings and only allowed eight hits and one run for an ERA of 0.61.

Home Opener

The North Carolina Tarheels beat Oklahoma State in their home opener 2-1 as freshman second baseman Kyle Datres drove in first baseman Brian Miller in walk off style with a double into the right centerfield gap. The Tarheels bench ran out to congratulate him as Datres rounded second base and he tossed his batting helmet towards third base. The Tarheels scored in the bottom of the first when Tyler Ramirez doubled in Miller with a double but did not score again until the bottom of the ninth. The Tarheels left 12 men on base in the game. Oklahoma State tied the game in the top of the second inning on a solo homerun.

Tarheels starter Zac Gallen, reigning ACC pitcher of the week, only gave up the one run in seven innings, struck out nine, and walked three while only giving up three hits. He was not around long enough to get the win. A.J. Bogucki came on to retire two batters before turning the ball over to Hunter Williams who got the final four outs and the win. Williams gave up a single in the top of the ninth but the runner was erased when catcher Cody Roberts threw him out trying to steal. Roberts one hopped his throw to second baseman Datres stayed with it and applied the tag.

North Carolina has opened the season with some tough competition. They opened with #9 UCLA and Oklahoma State comes to Chapel Hill ranked #11. Tarheel pitching has been stellar in the first four games, only giving up 18 hits and holding their opponents to a .144 batting average.

The Diamond Tarheels Season Opener Vs. UCLA

The #16 North Carolina Tarheels baseball team traveled to Los Angeles to take on the #9 UCLA Bruins this weekend in a season opening three game series. The Tarheels won game number one behind the pitching of Zac Gallen and the timely hitting of freshman designated hitter Brandon Riley. Gallen went 7 2/3 innings, gave up four hits, walked two, and struck out 11. Relievers Hunter Williams and Hansen Butler came on and pitched 2/3 of an inning a piece with Butler striking out the last two Bruins batters to get his first career save.

The Tarheels scored their first run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Lynn and scored three in the sixth inning on a two run double from Riley and that was followed by a run scoring double from Logan Warmoth. The Tarheels totaled nine hits for the game, three of those coming from first baseman Brian Miller.

The Tarheels are looking to get back to the NCAA playoffs after missing last season for the first time in ten seasons. They will have to infuse a group of talented freshmen and veterans in order to get back to the tournament. The Tarheels started three freshmen against the Bruins including freshman catcher Cody Roberts.

Taking Two From Duke

The Diamond Tarheels did what the Tarheel Basketball team coudn't do and that was beat Duke twice. I do not know if the rivalry is as big in baseball, but Duke is Duke, no matter what the sport.

They won the first game 8-1 behind the pitching of Zac Gallen and the second game 6-2 behind J.B. Bukauskas. That puts the 'Heels at 10-3 on the season and are looking for the sweep today.