Tar Heels Routed by Coastal Carolina on Tuesday

CHAPEL HILL, N.C – The North Carolina Tar Heels (18-16, 12-12 ACC) were defeated 6-3 by the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (18-13, 3-6 SBC) on Tuesday evening. It was the 64th meeting between the two Carolina schools. UNC still has the edge, comfortably supporting a record of 44-20 versus the Chanticleers.

Unfortunately, the Tar Heels offense, who has been consistently productive this season, could not get much going in the early stages of the game. Their first run was credited by a solo home run from Dallas Tessar in the fourth, snagging his second of the season. Later in the bottom of the seventh, Brett Centracchio collected his 16th RBI with a single that knocked in Freshman Tyler Causey.

They did possess a lot of grit, rallying in the bottom of the ninth trying to pull off what seemed like an impossible comeback. Clemente Inclan and Causey led off the inning, both recording singles, which followed an RBI knock by Caleb Roberts. They would eventually fall short, as UNC grounded into a game-clinching double play. 

Redshirt Freshman Max Alba took the mound for the Tar Heels, making his ninth start. He lasted one 1/3 innings allowing three runs on three hits, all being solo home runs. Alba’s command was solid, not giving up a single free pass in his 27 pitches, but the long ball is what haunted him.

Both clubs are known as some of the better home run hitting lineups in the country. The Chanticleers are currently ranked number one in the SBC with 42 homers, and the Tar Heels are ranked second in the ACC with 46.

The right-hander Alba did quick work in the first inning, needing just 15 pitches to record his first three outs. He got two ground-outs and a pop-out. However, there was damage done; Chanticleers centerfield Parker Chavers blasted the first of three solo homers on a 2-0 count to make the score 1-0.

Josh Jarman was the opposing pitcher for CCU, logging in his second start on the year and his eighth appearance. He had trouble finding the strike zone as it took him six pitches to toss in a strike. He did end up striking out two Tar Heels and did not allow a hit in the one inning that he pitched. It was a bullpen game for the Chanticleers, as they utilized nine different pitchers. 

CCU’S BT Riopelle would then lead off the top half of the second with a solo dinger of his own. Shortly after, Zack Beach would hit the team’s third and final home run to put them up 3-0 through two.

That put an end to Alba’s day. Following him was Tar Heels impressive southpaw reliever, Chris Joyner. Joyner came into the night supporting a 1-0 record with a stunning 0.90 ERA. The appearance was his seventh of the season for UNC. 

Manager Scott Forbes needed Joyner to at least keep them in the ball game, and he did just that. Going two innings, allowing two hits and two unearned runs resulting from an error, and struck out three along the way. 

The entire bullpen was excellent, allowing four hits, zero earned runs, five walks, and struck out 10. After Joyner, Connor Ollio, Davis Palermo, Caden O’Brien, and Cannon Pickell picked up the pitching duties. O’Brien was impressive sitting down all seven batters he faced but was forced to exit the game in the ninth due to injury. 

The Tar Heels look to bounce back as they remain in Chapel Hill, taking on ACC foe Miami in a three-game weekend series starting on Friday, April 23rd at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium.