By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — It had been 350 days since North Carolina had lost a game at Boshamer Stadium, and the No. 11 Tar Heels nearly extended their school-record home win streak on a night that Vance Honeycutt made more history.
UNC loaded the bases with two outs in a dramatic ninth inning, but No. 19 Coastal Carolina held on a tough 5–4 Tar Heels loss Tuesday to end their school-record 27-game home win streak, despite getting outstanding relief pitching.
“I know the streak is over, but I told the guys that if it’s going to end, let’s let it end now and not in the postseason,” UNC coach Scott Forbes said. “Flush it and move on.”
Amid the frustration of the Tar Heels’ first home loss since May 5 last season against Campbell, Honeycutt still made it a memorable night.
The junior center fielder swatted two home runs, giving him 51 for his career, and became the first player in ACC history with at least 50 homers and at least 60 steals (he has 68).
“It’s unreal,” Forbes said. “I think he’s the best player in the country, but he’s also an unbelievable man, a person and leader.”
His second streak of home runs in three consecutive games this season and fifth of his career gave him 14 homers this season, surpassing last season’s total of 12. Honeycutt moved into sole possession of second place on the all-time UNC home-run list (see list below), six behind Devy Bell (1984–87).
Honeycutt is the third 50-50 player in conference history, joining Florida State’s J.D. Drew and Clemson’s Khalil Greene.
“I wish it could have been done on a win,” said Honeycutt, who hit a third-inning fastball to right-center for an opposite-field home run and belted a slider over the left-field wall in the seventh inning. “But I guess it just kind of speaks to the gifts I was given. And just keep trying to hone in on those and keep plugging.”
UNC designated hitter Alberto Osuna jumped to sixth on the all-time list with his 41st career home run — a leadoff blast in the sixth — to pass the total of 40 from Sean Farrell (2000–03), Jarrett Shearin (1996–99) and Cookie Massey (1993–94). Osuna is one homer away from fifth-place Chad Flack (2005–08).
All that history was some solace after UNC’s hopes of extending a historic home win streak ended in a tension-filled ninth inning.
UNC first baseman Parks Harber hit a routine grounder with two outs to Coastal shortstop Ty Dooley that should have ended the game. Instead, Dooley’s throw was high for an error. Harber was safe at first, and Casey Cook, who had drawn a two-out walk, took third base. Osuna walked to load the bases.
After freshman catcher Luke Stevenson was lifted in the eighth inning for a pinch runner, it came down to Elon transfer catcher Parker Haskin in his first at-bat since March 26.
Haskin worked the count to 2 and 2 but struck out swinging on a cutter from Coastal redshirt senior right-hander Trevor Hinkel to end the game.
“I felt like Haskin looked really good in the box,” Forbes said. “He’s a good hitter. He had good numbers at Elon. We felt great about the matchup. On a 2-2 pitch, he threw a nasty cutter down and in and beat him, and that happens in baseball.”
Seeking the tying run after trailing 4–0 in the second inning, Kaleb Cost ran for Stevenson in the eighth inning. UNC (26–10) tied it when second baseman Alex Madera bunted Cost to second, and Cost scored on pinch hitter Gavin Gallaher’s single up the middle.
“We were down, and Luke’s slow and we’ve got to tie the game right there,” Forbes said. “I might not can send Luke on that same ball, so I don’t look back on that one at all. If you don’t tie the game, you lose earlier; potentially you’re down by two.”
A problem for Carolina all game is that Gallaher single was the Tar Heels’ only hit in 16 chances with runners on base.
“We didn’t have back to back,” Forbes said. “We’d get a guy on and get out. Timely hitting is the game of baseball, and we just didn’t have it tonight.”
UNC starter Olin Johnson retired the first two batters of the second inning but loaded the bases with a single, hit batsman and a walk.
Shortstop Dean Mihos hit a two-run single to right and third baseman Sam Antonacci an RBI single through the right side of the infield to end Johnson’s night. Redshirt sophomore reliever Dalton Pence came on and got Antonacci caught in a rundown for the third out, but not before Mihos scored to make it 4–0.
Forbes regretted not having Pence ready to come in sooner so that he could have faced Antonacci. He also wished that he had called an arm-fake play that likely would have prevented the fourth Coastal run in the second.
“As a coach, you have certain decisions you have to make throughout the game,” Forbes said. “I felt like I didn’t make two good ones, so I told the guys, ‘I’ll take that loss. Let it all be on me.’ ”
Pence struck out three in 2⅓ innings with no runs and no walks. Sophomore left-hander Kyle Percival (four strikeouts, a hit and a walk in three shutout innings) and sophomore right-hander Matthew Matthijs (1 inning, 1 hit, no walks, 1 strikeout), kept the good relief pitching going.
Honeycutt’s homers in the second and seventh innings and Osuna’s in the sixth cut the deficit to one before UNC tied it in the eighth inning.
But the Chanticleers quickly retook the lead when UNC right-handed reliever Matt Poston (loser, 2–1) walked DH Caden Bodine to lead off the ninth. Pinch runner Sebastian Alexander advanced to second on a fly out to center and scored Zack Beach’s infield single on a ball Madera couldn’t snag.
Honeycutt made a strong throw, but Madera couldn’t make the tag on Alexander.
“Just to put it another foot or so to the right,” Honeycutt said of where he wished his throw had gone. “Give Madera more of a chance, then we go into that bottom of the ninth tied rather than down one.”
With the big three-game series at N.C. State (20–14, 10–8 ACC) starting Thursday, Forbes wasn’t going to let Pence, Matthijs or Poston throw more than 20 or 25 pitches.
“That was our goal,” Forbes said. “You want to win this game but you also have to have your guys ready Thursday on the road at N.C. State because it’s conference play. And we weren’t going to compromise that. We needed somebody else to step up, and Kyle Percival sure did.”
Beach and Antonacci each had two hits for Coastal (25–11),
NOTES — UNC freshman right-hander Jason DeCaro (2–1, 3.66 ERA) will start the 7 p.m. Thursday opener (ACC Network) against the Wolfpack, with junior left-hander Shea Sprague (2–1, 4.06) starting the 6 p.m. Friday game and junior right-hander Aidan Haugh (2–0, 3.08) going for the Tar Heels in the 3 p.m. Saturday series finale. … The Wolfpack, which lost Tuesday to Campbell 11–7 in 12 innings, won two of three games at No. 6 Clemson last weekend. … Tuesday was the annual game for the UNC band to entertain the crowd from seats down the right-field line. … Right fielder Anthony Donofrio made a nice catch on designated hitter Bodine’s drive to the right-field wall to lead off the second inning. … UNC has lost three in a row against Coastal, but leads the all-time series 47–23, including 32–15 in Chapel Hill.
No. 19 Coastal Carolina 5, No. 11 UNC 4
ACC standings
| Coastal Division | League | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| No. 12 North Carolina | 17–7 | 33–11 |
| No. 11 Virginia | 14–10 | 33–12 |
| No. 10 Duke | 14–10 | 30–14 |
| Virginia Tech | 13–11 | 27–14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11–10 | 27–15 |
| Miami | 8–16 | 19–24 |
| Pittsburgh | 5–16 | 18–22 |
| Atlantic Division | League | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| No. 4 Clemson | 15–6 | 34–9 |
| No. 7 Florida State | 13–8 | 34–9 |
| No. 21 N.C. State | 12–9 | 25–16 |
| No. 13 Wake Forest | 12–12 | 27–16 |
| Louisville | 10–11 | 25–18 |
| Boston College | 8–16 | 21–21 |
| Notre Dame | 7–17 | 22–20 |
(Unless otherwise indicated, games only stream on ESPN3)
Sunday’s results
Virginia Tech 4, No. 12 North Carolina 3
Notre Dame 8, No. 13 Wake Forest 7
No. 10 Duke 16, No. 7 Florida State 4
Georgia Tech 17, Miami 1
Pittsburgh 5, Bryant 2
No. 20 N.C. State 9, Ball State 3
No. 4 Clemson 17, Louisville 7
Tuesday’s games
UMass Lowell at Boston College, 3 p.m.
UNCW at No. 20 N.C. State, 5 p.m.
Northern Kentucky at Louisville, 6 p.m.
No. 13 Wake Forest vs. Appalachian State in Shelby, 6 p.m.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.
No. 11 Virginia at VCU, 6:30
Charlotte at No. 12 North Carolina, 7 p.m.. ACC Network
Wednesday’s games
William & Mary at No. 12 North Carolina, 6 p.m.
No. 13 Wake Forest at High Point, 6 p.m.
Navy at No. 11 Virginia, 6 p.m.
N.C. A&T at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m.
| Date | Day/ month | Time/ score | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | ||||
| 16 | Friday | W, 10–3 | vs. Wagner | 1–0 |
| 17 | Saturday | W, 16–5 | vs. Wagner | 2–0 |
| 18 | Sunday | W, 20–6 | vs. Wagner | 3–0 |
| 20 | Tuesday | W, 8–7 | vs. Elon | 4–0 |
| 23 | Friday | W, 2–1 | vs. No. 5 East Carolina | 5–0 |
| 24 | Saturday | L, 7–4 | vs. No. 5 East Carolina in Fayetteville | 5–1 |
| 25 | Sunday | L, 10–9 | at No. 5 East Carolina | 5–2 |
| 27 | Tuesday | W, 8–2 | vs. VCU | 6–2 |
| 28 | Wednesday | W, 12–3 | vs. Longwood | 7–2 |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Friday | W, 12–2 | vs. Princeton | 8–2 |
| 2 | Saturday | W, 11–2 | vs. Princeton | 9–2 |
| 3 | Sunday | W, 13–6 | vs. Princeton | 10–2 |
| 5 | Tuesday | W, 7–3 | at Campbell | 11–2 |
| 8 | Friday | W, 2–1 | vs. Pittsburgh | 12–2, 1–0 ACC |
| 9 | Saturday | W, 7–3 | vs. Pittsburgh | 13–2, 2–0 ACC |
| 10 | Sunday | W, 6–5, 10 innings | vs. Pittsburgh | 14–2, 3–0 ACC |
| 12 | Tuesday | W, 13–7 | vs. Rutgers | 15–2 |
| 13 | Wednesday | W, 9–8 | vs. Rutgers | 16–2 |
| 15 | Friday | L, 14–1 | at Miami | 16–3, 3–1 ACC |
| 16 | Saturday | L, 2–1 | at Miami | 16–4, 3–2 ACC |
| 17 | Sunday | W, 18–6 | at Miami | 17–4, 4–2 ACC |
| 19 | Tuesday | W, 11–0, 7 innings | vs. UNCW | 18–4 |
| 22 | Friday | W, 5–4 | vs. Georgia Tech | 19–4, 5–2 ACC |
| 23 | Saturday | W, 11–5 | vs. Georgia Tech | 20–4, 6–2 ACC |
| 24 | Sunday | W, 9–2 | vs. Georgia Tech | 21–4, 7–2 ACC |
| 26 | Tuesday | W, 10–8 | vs. N.C. A&T | 22–4 |
| 29 | Friday | W, 6–5 | at No. 13 Wake Forest | 23–4, 8–2 ACC |
| 30 | Saturday | W, 10–6 | at No. 13 Wake Forest | 24–4, 9–2 ACC |
| 31 | Sunday | W, 14–10 | at No. 13 Wake Forest | 25–4, 10–2 ACC |
| April | ||||
| 4 | Thursday | L, 14–11 | at No. 11 Virginia | 25–5, 10–3 ACC |
| 5 | Friday | L, 7–2 | at No. 11 Virginia | 25–6, 10–4 ACC |
| 6 | Saturday | W, 12–7 | at No. 11 Virginia | 26–6, 11–4 ACC |
| 9 | Tuesday | L, 2–1 | vs. No. 15 South Carolina in Charlotte | 26–7 |
| 12 | Friday | W, 13–0, 6½ innings | vs. Notre Dame | 27–7, 12–4 ACC |
| 13 | Saturday | W, 7–2 | vs. Notre Dame | 28–7, 13–4 ACC |
| 14 | Sunday | W, 10–3 | vs. Notre Dame | 29–7, 14–4 ACC |
| 16 | Tuesday | L, 5–4 | vs. Coastal Carolina | 29–8 |
| 18 | Thursday | L, 9–8 | at No. 20 N.C. State | 29–9, 14–5 ACC |
| 19 | Friday | L, 5–4 | at No. 20 N.C. State | 29–10, 14–6 ACC |
| 20 | Saturday | W, 14–3 | at No. 20 N.C. State | 30–10, 15–6 ACC |
| 23 | Tuesday | W, 5–2 | vs. Gardner-Webb | 31–10 |
| 26 | Friday | W, 8–1 | vs. Virginia Tech | 32–10, 16–6 ACC |
| 27 | Saturday | W, 6–3 | vs. Virginia Tech | 33–10, 17–6 ACC |
| 28 | Sunday | L, 4–3 | vs. Virginia Tech | 33–11, 17–7 ACC |
| 30 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. Charlotte | ACCN |
| May | ||||
| 1 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. William & Mary | ESPN3 |
| 7 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Campbell | ESPN3 |
| 10 | Friday | 6 p.m. | vs. Louisville | ESPN3 |
| 11 | Saturday | 2 p.m. | vs. Louisville | ESPN3 |
| 12 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Louisville | ACCN |
| 14 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | at UNCW | FloSports |
| 16 | Thursday | 6 p.m. | at No. 10 Duke | ACCN |
| 17 | Friday | 6 p.m. | at No. 10 Duke | ESPN3 |
| 18 | Saturday | 1 p.m. | at No. 10 Duke | ESPN3 |
| 21–26 | Tuesday- Sunday | TBA | ACC tournament in Charlotte | ACCN |
| 31 | Friday | TBA | NCAA Regional | TBA |
| June | ||||
| 1–3 | Saturday- Monday | TBA | NCAA Regional | TBA |
| 7–10 | Friday- Monday | TBA | NCAA Super Regional | TBA |
| 14–24 | Friday- Monday | TBA | College World Series in Omaha, Neb. | TBA |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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