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UNC Baseball: Diamond Heels advance to Super Regionals

By Zack Pearson

Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of a bag of baseballs before the start of the game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Vanderbilt Commodores during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of the away jersey of the Vanderbilt Commodores and the home jersey of the Virginia Cavaliers before the start of game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of a bag of baseballs before the start of the game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Vanderbilt Commodores during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) Omaha, NE - JUNE 23: A general view of the away jersey of the Vanderbilt Commodores and the home jersey of the Virginia Cavaliers before the start of game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 23, 2015 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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The Diamond Heels have advanced to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament and are now one round away from the College World Series in Omaha.

What a difference a year makes for the North Carolina Tar Heels Baseball program.

In 2017, the Diamond Heels were bounced out of their own regional by Davidson in a shocking upset on the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament. But a year later, UNC has officially taken the next step.

The Tar Heels beat the Houston Cougars for the second time in 24 hours to advance to the Chapel Hill Super Regional next weekend. A night after the Diamond Heels had to hold on to a late rally from Houston they flat out dominated this game, winning 19-11 and punching their ticket to the next round.

Following Saturday night’s loss, Houston had a quick turnaround. They beat the Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday afternoon around 4:45 p.m. and then had to play UNC again around 6 p.m.

Much like Saturday’s game, it didn’t take the Diamond Heels long to strike and take the lead.

After a scoreless top of the first inning, UNC leadoff hitter Kyle Datres hit a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead. Houston was able to respond by plating two runs in the second inning and one run in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. It would be the only lead for the Cougars.

The Diamond Heels rallied with a five-run third inning on RBI’s from Michael Busch, Brandon Riley and Ike Freeman. The Cougars had a wild pitch and an error to help aid the Diamond Heels big innings.

From there it was all UNC.

The Diamond Heels broke the game wide open with two runs in the sixth, three in the seventh and then five in the eighth. Houston was able to pull to within three in the top of the eighth on a grand slam by first baseman Joe Davis, cutting the lead to 14-11.

After a 55-minute lightning delay, the Tar Heels were able to add some insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning and secure the win.

The 19 runs by the Diamond Heels were the most in program history in an NCAA Tournament game. Over the weekend, they had games of 11 runs and 19 runs which is certainly a good sign moving forward.

Busch helped lead the offensive output going 3-of-4 with 4 RBI’s and 2 walks. Riley and Freeman both added 3 RBI’s for the Tar Heels.

Austin Bergner earned the win, pitching 5 2/3 innings giving up 3 runs on 8 hits.

The win advances the Diamond Heels to the Chapel Hill Super Regional against Stetson beginning next weekend. It will be a best-of-three series with the winner punching their ticket to Omaha for the College World Series.

Next: Diamond Heels beat Houston

Check back with Keeping It Heel for complete coverage of the Chapel Hill Super Regional between the Tar Heels and Hatters.

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