(Photo: Jim Hawkins \/ Inside Carolina)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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CHAPEL HILL, NC – No. 10 overall seed North Carolina got ahead early to beat No. 2 regional seed Georgia, 6-5, and eliminate the Bulldogs from the postseason.<\/p>\n
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UNC fell behind first in each of its first two games of the weekend, surrendering leads to Hofstra and Virginia Commonwealth. In the top of the second, Johnny Castagnozzi roped a sharp line drive off the third baseman’s glove to score Alberto Osuna and put the Tar Heels on top.<\/p>\n
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Mikey Madej piled on with a two-RBI single in the top of the third and very quickly UNC was leading, 4-0. The senior left fielder finished the day with 3 RBI, which ties his season-high. He is on a 12-game hitting streak-20-for-48 during the streak-with none more important than his performance di lui against Georgia to stave off elimination.<\/p>\n
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Things got interesting in the ninth when Georgia hit a two-run home run that was changed after review to a ground-rule double. Following a ground out, Chaney Rogers hit a three-run home run to left center field to make it a one-run ball game. Vance Honeycutt robbed the would-be game-tying home run to add to his impressive highlight reel for the season.<\/p>\n
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Caden O’Brien, who pitched in Omaha in 2018, earned the one-out save on a strikeout looking to send his team forward.<\/p>\n
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The Bulldogs, after lighting up Hofstra for 24 runs on Saturday, fell short due to missed opportunities. They left 12 runners on base and were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n
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Nik Pry earned his third win of the season (3-0) after throwing 2.1 innings, his longest appearance of the 2022 postseason. He allowed one unearned run on four hits while facing a game-high 13 batters.<\/p>\n
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A Different Tune<\/strong><\/p>\n
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The secondary story of the game Saturday night was UNC’s failure to capitalize. That wasn’t the case on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
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Going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position last night, the Tar Heels started 2-for-3 in this game to plate three runs early. Mikey Madej had a 2-RBI single first pitch swinging to make it 3-0. And then with runners on the corners, one out, Madej sliced \u200b\u200ba ball to shortstop to score Honeycutt and reach on the infield single to make it 3-for-6 with RISP.<\/p>\n
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UNC finished the game 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n
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By-Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n
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With a potential double-header on-tap, acting head coach Bryant Gaines used the full arsenal of the bullpen. Five pitchers made an appearance with only one going longer than three innings.<\/p>\n
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Will Sandy: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 9 batters
Shawn Rapp: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 beat
Nik Pry: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R (unearned), 2 K, 1 BB, 13 batters
Gage Gillian: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1K, 6 batters
Davis Palermo: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 10 batters
Connor Bovair: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 4 batters
Caden O’Brien: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, 1 beat<\/p>\n
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Highlight Play<\/strong><\/p>\n
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