By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — On the first day of final exams, No. 2 North Carolina had a rough night in a big test against a veteran opponent.
No. 9 Coastal Carolina, the reigning national runner-up, handed the Tar Heels a 12–2 loss Tuesday at Boshamer Stadium, capitalizing on timely offense and sustained pressure against a pitching staff that struggled to stem the momentum.
“All the credit goes to Coastal,” said UNC coach Scott Forbes, who called it an “old-fashioned woodshed” beating. “They beat us in every aspect of the game.
UNC sophomore right-hander Walker McDuffie (6–2) provided a bright spot in an otherwise difficult night on the mound. Coming on in relief in the second inning, McDuffie retired 10 consecutive batters at one point and struck out a career-high eight over 4⅓ innings.
“Other than Walker, we just weren’t very good, and they were really good,” Forbes said, adding that McDuffie dealt with a virus for a couple of days. “He was outstanding. Gave us a chance to win.”
That stretch helped steady the game temporarily, but Coastal (31–13), which has scored at least nine runs 17 times this season, eventually broke through.
The Chanticleers’ six-run seventh inning proved decisive, and their 12 total runs marked the second-most surrendered by UNC (36–9–1) this season. The Tar Heels were forced to use a season-high eight pitchers. The six-run inning was tied for the most UNC has allowed in an inning this year.
Carolina’s offense, normally one of the most productive in the country, managed just two runs, both coming on one swing of the bat.
Cooper Nicholson hit his 11th home run, a two-run shot in the second inning off a sinker that he drove 395 feet just inside the left-field foul pole. Nicholson has two of UNC’s last three homers.
“That was a really good at-bat,” Forbes said of Nicholson. “He’s been getting more consistent at-bats, and when he hits it, he does damage. Right now, against Cooper, you have to make pitches.”
Beyond Nicholson’s blast, opportunities were scarce. UNC finished with only three baserunners on second base and struggled to apply pressure against Coastal’s pitching staff, particularly early against starter Jackson Smallets (4 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts).
“I thought our at-bats against their starter weren’t very good,” Forbes said. “They did things better than we did offensively. Their approach top to bottom was better, and they put pressure on us.”
Coastal set the tone quickly.
UNC starter Justin Rose issued a leadoff walk to Dean Milhos in the first inning. Milhos moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on Rex Watson’s two-out single up the middle. Rose allowed another leadoff walk in the second and a one-out single before McDuffie entered with two outs and struck out Milhos swinging to end the threat.
The Chanticleers’ leadoff man reached base in each of the first three innings before McDuffie retired them in order in the fourth inning with two swinging strikeouts.
“I thought he was in complete control,” Forbes said of McDuffie, who gave up a double in the sixth inning to Watson that just went off the glove of center fielder Owen Hull. “It was still a one-run game, and credit to them, that was a two-strike changeup that barely missed the glove. They got good swings, and that happens.”
Domenico Tozzi followed Watson’s double with an RBI single to left, and Colby Thorndyke drove in the go-ahead run with a single to center for a 3–2 Coastal lead.
After McDuffie exited, the seventh inning unraveled quickly.
It took three Tar Heel pitchers to record the first out, and four pitchers to escape that big inning as Coastal sent 11 hitters to the plate. Matthew Matthijs surrendered three hits and a run, Folger Boaz allowed an RBI single, and Camron Seagraves issued a wild pitch that brought in another run. Cameron Padgett finally stopped the rally, but not before giving up two RBI singles.
“We’ve got to have somebody else step up,” Forbes said. “Three pitchers, seven pitches, six runs, that’s not going to get it done if you want to reach your goals.”
Coastal added three more runs in the ninth, scoring once against Jake Cackovic and twice off Boston Flannery.
Despite the lopsided nature of the loss, Forbes emphasized perspective afterward, particularly with postseason play looming.
“We’re not going to let one game define us,” Forbes said. “When you do fail, if you let it, it can make you better. This group has won a lot of games, and nobody hurts more than the players.”
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Notes
— Early Wednesday afternoon, the scheduled home game against Queens was canceled.
— Forbes said he wanted to give ace Jason DeCaro one more day of rest, and that was the reson that he didn’t pitch against Coastal.
— The game attracted 4,405 fans, easily a season-high for a mid-week game.
— UNC’s only other game this week is at home Sunday at 2 p.m. against Duke (ACC Network). The game will be the first for the Blue Devils (23–23, 9–15) since losing two of three at home over the weekend to Carolina.
— Baseball America projects UNC as the No. 4 overall NCAA tournament seed, hosting Tennessee, Saint Joseph’s and Binghamton.
— Carolina also gave up six runs in the fifth inning of its 8–7 home win on April 4.
— The most runs a UNC opponent has scored this season was by Virginia in its 13–3 win in Chapel Hill on March 6.
— According to UNC, a stadium-record 3,200 $1 hot dogs were consumed at the game. UNC students built a snake with hot dog wrappers.
—Coastal cut its deficit in the all-time series with Coastal to 48–24.
No. 9 Coastal Carolina 12, No. 2 UNC 2
ACC standings
| League | GB | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 3 Georgia Tech | 25–5 | — | 45–9 |
| No. 2 North Carolina | 22–8 | 3 | 43–10–1 |
| No. 11 Florida State | 19–11 | 6 | 38–15 |
| No. 23 Boston College | 17–13 | 8 | 36–20 |
| Wake Forest | 16–14 | 9 | 38–18 |
| Miami | 16–14 | 9 | 36–17 |
| Virginia Tech | 15–15 | 10 | 29–23 |
| Virginia | 14–16 | 11 | 35–20 |
| N.C. State | 14–16 | 11 | 32–21 |
| Stanford | 13–17 | 12 | 27–25 |
| Notre Dame | 13–17 | 12 | 30–21 |
| Louisville | 13–17 | 12 | 30–26 |
| California | 12–18 | 13 | 29–25 |
| Pittsburgh | 11–19 | 14 | 30–23 |
| Clemson | 10–20 | 15 | 31–25 |
| Duke | 10–20 | 15 | 24–29 |
Thursday-Saturday series
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh — Pitt, 6–3; ND, 6–4; ND, 21–10 (7)
Virginia at Louisville — Va., 8–3; UL, 12–2; UL, 10–5
Miami at No. 11 Florida State — FSU, 7–6 (11); FSU, 11–1; Miami, 7–4
Wake Forest at Duke — WF, 7–2; WF, 7–2; Duke, 7–3
Clemson at Virginia Tech — VT, 5–1; VT, 2–1; Clemson, 10–7
No. 3 Georgia Tech at No. 23 Boston College — GT swept 9–0, 14–1, 15–2 (7)
No. 2 North Carolina at N.C. State — UNC, 9–4; UNC, 17–7 (8); State, 7–2
Stanford at California — Stanford, 7–6; Cal, 4–3; Cal, 2–1
End of regular season
ACC tournament
Tuesday through May 24
Truist Field in Charlotte
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Scores | Opponent (current rank) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | ||||
| 13–14 | Fri., Sat. | W, 9–4; W, 12–2 (7); W, 4–3 (11) | vs. Indiana | 3–0 |
| 17 | Tuesday | W, 10–0 (7) | vs. Richmond | 4–0 |
| 18 | Wednesday | W, 5–3 | vs. Longwood | 5–0 |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun | W, 10–0 (8); L, 10–3; T, 3–3 | vs. East Carolina | 6–1–1 |
| 24 | Tuesday | W, 9–1 | vs. N.C. A&T | 7–1–1 |
| 25 | Wednesday | W, 13–3 (7) | vs. VCU | 8–1–1 |
| 27–28 | Fri., Sat. | W, 16–3 (7); W, 12–2 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 10–1–1 |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | W, 21–1 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 11–1–1 |
| 3 | Tuesday | W, 5–1 | vs. Elon | 12–1–1 |
| 6–7 | Fri., Sat | L, 13–3 (7); L, 9–2; W, 8–7 (12) | vs. Virginia | 13–3–1, 1–2 ACC |
| 10 | Tuesday | W, 13–3 (7) | vs. Bucknell | 14–3–1 |
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 8–1; W, 6–2; W, 10–2 | at California | 17–3–1, 4–2 |
| 18 | Wednesday | W, 8–2 | vs. UNCG | 18–3–1 |
| 20–22 | Fri.–Sun. | W, 11–1 (8); L, 2–0; W, 7–6 | vs. Louisville | 20–4–1, 6–3 |
| 24 | Tuesday | W, 9–1 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte | 21–4–1 |
| 28, 29 | Sat., Sun | W, 6–5; W, 13–7; W, 15–10 | at Notre Dame | 24–4–1, 9–3 |
| 31 | Tuesday | W, 5–4 (14) | vs. Campbell | 25–4–1 |
| April | ||||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | L, 6–1; W, 5–2; W, 8–7 | vs. Boston College | 27–5–1, 11–4 |
| 7 | Tuesday | W, 8–4 | vs. Charlotte | 28–5–1 |
| 10–12 | Fri.–Sun. | L, 9–5; W, 6–4 (14); W, 12–5 | at Clemson | 30–6–1, 13–5 |
| 14 | Tuesday | W, 14–5 | vs. UNCW | 31–6–1 |
| 17–19 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 5–2; W, 14–4 (8); L, 5–2 | vs. No. 2 Georgia Tech | 33–7–1, 15–6 |
| 21 | Tuesday | W, 9–2 | vs. High Point | 34–7–1 |
| 23–25 | Thur.–Sat. | W, 3–1; L, 3–1; W, 22–5 (7) | at Duke | 36–8–1, 17–7 |
| 28 | Tuesday | L, 12–2 | vs. Coastal Carolina | 36–9–1 |
| May | ||||
| 3 | Sunday | W, 13–0 (7) (non-conference game) | vs. Duke | 37–9–1 |
| 8–10 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 4–1; W, 12–2 (8); W, 7–3 | vs. Pittsburgh | 40–9–1, 20–7 |
| 12 | Tuesday | W, 13–7 | at UNCW | 41–9–1 |
| 14–16 | Thur.-Sat. | W, 9–4; W, 17–7 (8); L, 7–2 | at N.C. State | 43–10–1, 22–8 |
| ACC tournament | Charlotte | |||
| 22 | Friday | W, 10–4 | Quarterfinal vs. Virginia Tech | 44–10–1 |
| 23 | Saturday | W, 13–5 | Semifinal vs. Pittsburgh | 45–10–1 |
| 24 | Sunday | L, 13–6 | Championship vs. No. 2 Ga. Tech | 45–11–1 |
| NCAA tournament | ||||
| Chapel Hill Regional | ||||
| 29 | Friday | W, 8–0 | VCU | 46–11–1 |
| 30–31 | Sat.–Sun. | W, 7–5; W, 9–3 | East Carolina | 48–11–1 |
| June | ||||
| Chapel Hill Super Regionals | ||||
| 5–7 | Fri.–Sun. | L, 9–5; W, 4–0; W, 4–3 | Southern Cal | 50–12–1 |
| College World Series | Omaha, Neb. | |||
| 12 | Friday | W, 6–2 | No. 18 Ole Miss | 51–12–1 |
| 14, 17 | Sun., Wed. | W, 5–2; W, 12–7 | No. 9 West Virginia | 53–12–1 |
| 20–22 | Sat.-Mon. | L, 9–3; W, 6–2; L, 13–2 | CWS Finals vs. Oklahoma | 54–14–1 |
Photos courtesy of UNC Athletics
