After a big win against Wright State, North Carolina needed to avenge their loss to Iowa.
North Carolina will need to down the Hawkeyes, who handed the Heels their first loss in the tournament. Freshman Cameron Padgett got the start on the mound today. The Heels hit in the bottom half of the inning. Once again, loser goes home.
1st Inning
- Top- Padgett gave up one hit, but was able to get two pop-ups and a grounder.
- Bottom- After two quick outs, the Heels threatened to score with the bases loaded, but couldn’t get the hits needed to capitalize.
0-0
2nd Inning
- Top- Iowa got a walk and single, before three straight outs.
- Bottom- Another quick two outs made things bleak, however, Colby Wilkerson walked and Casey Cook followed with a two-run home run. Mac Horvath grounded out afterward to end the inning.
2-0, Heels
3rd Inning
- Top- A walk began the inning. After a single, with a runner on third, Iowa hit a sacrifice fly to score one. A strikeout followed.
- Bottom- The Tar Heel hitters went down in order for a quick inning.
2-1, Heels
4th Inning
- Top- Iowa followed North Carolina’s 1-2-3 inning with one of their own.
- Bottom- After a flyout to right by Casey Cook, Johnny Castagnozzi hit a hard grounder past first base to get on. Osuna then was thrown out at first, but was able to advance Castagnozzi to second. A Wilkerson chopper to the shortstop ended the inning.
2-1, Heels
5th Inning
- Top- Two singles by Iowa were followed by a Padgett strikeout. North Carolina decided to change pitchers, giving the ball to Kyle Percival with one out. The first batter he faced crushed a ball to right, giving the Hawkeyes the lead. The next batter hit a single. Another pitching change ensued, with Matt Poston now on the mound. He got the strikeout on the first man he faced. Next, a groundout to short ended the inning.
- Bottom- Casey Cook with a fly out to start the inning. A groundout and strikeout ended the inning.
4-2, Hawkeyes
6th Inning
- Top- Poston was able to get a pop-up for the first out. A strikeout was followed by a walk before a groundout ended the top of the sixth.
- Bottom- Tomas Frick smoked a low liner to third for the first out. Stokely watched strike three for out number two. Afterward, Patrick Alvarez worked a walk. Castagnozzi then walked, putting runners on first and second. Pinch-hitting for Alberto Osuna, Dylan King hit a ball just short of the fence that was caught for the third out.
4-2, Hawkeyes
7th Inning
- Top- A high pitch from Poston hit the first batter. He got the strikeout on the next man up. A wild pitch allowed the runner on first to advance. Afterward, a high swing got a ball down in left, getting the runner to third. This forced another pitching change, with Coach Scott Forbes going back to Kevin Eaise. Another sacrifice fly scores a run for Iowa. Eaise was able to get a strikeout to end the inning.
- Bottom- Wilkerson with another groundout to start the bottom of the inning. Casey Cook followed, hitting a ball into the glove of the right fielder. Mac Horvath got his second hit with a grounder that got by the shortstop. Van De Brake chased a breaking ball, for both strike and out number three.
5-2, Hawkeyes
8th Inning
- Top- Eaise remained hot, getting two pop-ups and a strikeout to keep the Heels alive.
- Bottom- Frick got the Heels a hit to begin the inning. Stokely followed with a single of his own to get runners on first and second with no outs. Following with two outs, Dylan King came up for his twelfth at-bat of the year and doubled, scoring two. A Colby Wilkerson fly out, ended the inning.
5-4, Hawkeyes
9th Inning
- Top- A walk, and then a bunt got an Iowa runner to second with one out. Eaise was relieved afterward, putting Hunter Pence in again. He then forced two pop-ups to give the Heels a one run deficit in the last inning.
- Bottom- Casey Cook started the inning with a strikeout. Mac Horvath tied the game with a shot over the right field wall to tie the game! Another Iowa pitching change followed. Van De Brake and Frick grounded and flew out to end the ninth.
5-5
10th Inning
- Top- Dalton Pence got the 1-2-3 inning.
- Bottom- After two outs, Castagnozzi walked. Max Reimer was thrown out at first, sending the game to the 11th.
5-5
11th Inning
- Top- Outside of a scary deep hit to right, Iowa had nothing going.
- Bottom- After two outs, Horvath walked and then stole second. Van De Brake grounded out to third to end the inning.
5-5
12th Inning
- Top- After a single to first, Iowa bunted the runner over to second again. The Heels got the second out on a dribbler to third. A liner to short ended the inning.
- Bottom- Two strikeouts and a pop-fly lead to no runs.
5-5
13th Inning
- Top- After an early pop-up that got down, Iowa hit a ball into the gap to score and take the lead.
- Bottom- A groundout, foul pop-up that was caught and another ground-out ended the game.
Final
6-5, Iowa
Recap
A frustrating game ended with another loss to Iowa. In both games against the Hawkeyes, North Carolina struggled to get the bats going until late in the game. In this game, pitching held up for as long as they could, allowing only 6 runs in 13 innings. For North Carolina to be successful the bats needed to play as they have for much of the season. That did not happen. This loss closes the door on a season that many expected to be better. Until next year, Diamond Heels.
