Kyle Convissar (left) and Michael Montville (right)
The Terrapins baseball team arrived in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Friday with high expectations and an opportunity to take home its first conference series win of the season against No. 1 North Carolina.
It wouldn’t be easy. The Tar Heels had rightfully earned their place atop the college baseball rankings, entering the weekend with ACC leads in ERA (1.74) and runs per game (8.77). But the Terps had shown a renewed sense of urgency in a 6-3 win over Rider earlier in the week.
It wasn’t enough, though. North Carolina swept the three-game series, another setback in what has been a disappointing and underwhelming 4-11 start to conference play.
“We’ll be ready to beat a team like [North Carolina] when we deserve to,” coach John Szefc said. “We’re not at that stage yet where we deserve to beat those people based on how we play for nine innings. At some point we will be, but we’re just not quite there yet.”
North Carolina struck hard and struck early, jumping out to a 7-0 lead against left-hander Jimmy Reed on Friday night. In his worst start of the season, Reed lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on five hits and six walks. The Tar Heels cruised to a 12-4 victory behind five RBIs from center fielder Skye Bolt and four RBIs from first baseman Cody Stubbs.
The Terps showed resiliency Saturday, though, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from catcher Kevin Martir and a sacrifice fly from shortstop Blake Schmit. But Terps errors in the second and fourth innings gave life to the Tar Heels. They took a 5-3 lead during the fourth and held on for the victory.
Szefc’s squad regressed yesterday. Despite taking a 4-2 lead after five innings behind another two-RBI single from Martir, the Terps’ bullpen couldn’t close things out. It surrendered six runs in the final four innings in an 8-4 loss.
“You’re playing the No. 1 team in the country, and they’re really good,” Szefc said. “They’re all of that and more. You can’t walk guys like we did and you can’t make errors like we did. We’re in a really good league, and it will humble you quick as it has with us.”
Bullpen struggles were prevalent through the weekend, as the Tar Heels (29-2, 12-2 ACC) scored 11 runs (six earned) on 12 hits, nine walks and five hit by pitches in 11.1 innings against Terps (16-15, 4-11) relievers. Right-hander Brandon Casas’ performance Saturday was the strongest in relief, as he held the Tar Heels scoreless in 3.1 innings after replacing right-hander Brady Kirkpatrick.
There is upside, though. The Terps have gotten through the roughest stretch of their conference schedule, including series against the ACC’s top three teams — Virginia, North Carolina and Florida State — and the postseason is still a possibility. Martir and center fielder Charlie White continued their hot hitting at the plate, combining to bat .400 with two runs and six RBIs.
Not to mention, they return to Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium for two consecutive weekend conference series against Miami and Virginia Tech.
“We have to believe that we are still in it and that we still have a chance to make the postseason because we do,” said second baseman Kyle Convissar. “There is no reason anyone should be quitting on this season. Anything can happen.”
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