Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (UNC loses 6-1)

[adampowell]

North Carolina begins its quest for the school's seventh trip to the College World Series in the last nine seasons Friday afternoon, with an NCAA Tournament opener against Long Beach State in the Gainesville Regional in Florida.

The Diamond Heels (34-25) and Dirtbags (32-24) face off at 1:00 pm, with the winner playing the winner of the Florida/Charleston Southern game on Saturday afternoon.

UNC ace Trent Thornton takes the mound for the Diamond Heels, who really need to get off to a good start and win on Friday to have any realistic chance of getting back to the Super Regional round once again.............

We'll be providing live updates and commentary throughout today's game..................




This post was edited on 5/30 3:50 PM by adampowell

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

UNC goes down quietly, 1-2-3 in the top of the first against Long Beach State's ace pitcher Andrew Rohrbach. The Tar Heels are the visiting team today as the No. 3 seed, while LBST is the home team. UNC is wearing its powder blue tops with gray pants and navy blue helmets, while Long Beach is in black tops and white pinstripe pants.

The Dirtbags are coming to bat against Thornton in the bottom of the first, no score.





This post was edited on 5/30 1:11 PM by adampowell

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Impressive first inning for Thornton as he puts LBST down in order, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.

Heading to the second inning in Gainesville, no score.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Skye Bolt becomes the game's first base runner as he's hit by a pitch leading off the top of the second for the Diamond Heels but UNC fails to capitalize.

The Dirtbags come up in the bottom of the second, no score.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Thornton again makes quick work on Long Beach State in the bottom of the second, getting a strikeout and some nice glove work by Landon Lassiter to go 1-2-3.

Quickly into the third inning in Gainesville, no score.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

UNC gets its first base hit, but for the second straight inning the Diamond Heels hit into an inning-ending double play.

Heading to the bottom of the third, still no score.

 

[WoadBlue]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Announcers ay LBSU has gotten timely hist all year.

It would be nice if we could say that about the Heels.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Already into the fourth inning in Gainesville, and UNC again goes 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth.

Bottom of the fourth as Thornton prepares to face the Dirtbags lineup for the second time.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Long Beach State draws first blood, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead. Then the Dirtbags catch a break on a bad throw on a steal attempt, allowing the runner to get to third with one out.

Thornton has had to labor a little in the bottom of the fourth, and with a walk he's up to 60 pitches. Long Beach State has runners on the corners with one out, leading 1-0.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

RBI single makes it 2-0 Long Beach State, and the Diamond Heels are struggling to get out of this bottom of the fourth.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Another walk after the double steal by Long Beach State and the bases are loaded. The Dirtbags are trying to break this game open in the bottom of the fourth, Thornton just trying to get out of it with only two runs allowed.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

It's come unglued for the Diamond Heels, as a two-run single through the left side scores two more for Long Beach State, and the Dirtbags now lead 4-0.

Things really falling apart for Thornton and the Heels, as a passed ball allows both runners to move up.

That ties the most earned runs Thornton has allowed in a game this season, four earned runs against Pitt back in early March.

UNC is making a pitching change, Thornton is done with just three full innings, allowing four runs.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Trevor Kelley comes on and Long Beach State promptly scores two more runs, as a drive into the left field gap scores both runners from second and third to make it 6-0.

With the way UNC has been scoring runs this season, this looks like a very tall order against LBState's ace Rohrbach.

 

[sctarheel30]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Originally posted by WoadBlue:
Announcers ay LBSU has gotten timely hist all year.

It would be nice if we could say that about the Heels.

understatement of the year

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

UNC down quietly in the top of the fifth, and trailing by six runs its starting to become a matter of outs for the Diamond Heels.

6-0 Long Beach State heading to the bottom of the fifth...........

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

UNC again goes down harmlessly in the top of the sixth, and the Diamond Heels are really having trouble trying to solve Rohrbach.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

UNC has only been shut out three times this year---Florida State and Miami both did it recently.

We move into the seventh in Gainesville, and certainly right now it's looking like the Diamond Heels are heading for the Loser's Bracket.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

UNC has something going in the top of the seventh, as they have two base runners for the first time today.

One out, UNC with runners on second and first. Rohrbach has been in complete control, throwing just 69 pitches, but the Dirtbags have a quick conference on the mound to attempt to settle the sophomore ace down.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Carolina fails to capitalize on the two base runners, and are unable to score. Heading to the bottom of the seventh, 6-0 Long Beach State.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Tom Zengal rips a two-out double into the right field gap in the top of the eighth inning, as UNC tries to avoid getting shut out.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

A diving stop by Long Beach State's third baseman kills UNC's chance at scoring in the eighth. We head to the bottom of the eighth, UNC is trailing 6-0 and more than likely heading to the Loser's Bracket.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

Michael Russell leads off the top of the ninth for the Diamond Heels by ripping a pitch off the wall in left field. Russell's double gives UNC another runner in scoring position with nobody out in the top of the ninth.

Rohrbach still on for Long Beach State, looking for his fourth complete game of the season and to give the Dirtbags bullpen some much-needed rest heading into the weekend.

 

[adampowell]

Re: Game Thread: NCAA Tournament vs. Long Beach State (first pitch Friday 1:00)

UNC gets on the scoreboard with a base hit to center field by Landon Lassiter, which scores the first run for the Diamond Heels.

Rohrbach leaves, having pitched 8 and a third innings of seven-hit ball, allowing just one earned run.

6-1 is the score, UNC has a runner on first with one out in the top of the ninth.