first-placed Baseball at UNC falls short in the College World Series as Tennessee silences the Tar Heels in victory…see more

first-placed Baseball at UNC falls short in the College World Series as Tennessee silences the Tar Heels.

The Volunteers have progressed to the bracket finals on the strength of the long ball, notably a three-run blast by Kavares Tears off starter Shea Sprague in the fourth inning. In the College World Series, UNC is now 1-1. To determine who will occupy the other berth, UNC must play FSU on Tuesday at 2:00 PM.

With the three-run home slam and a huge two-out double that scored an additional run in the eighth inning, Tears was the Tar Heel killer on Sunday night. The only other Volunteer with multiple hits during the game was him.

earned run in five pitched innings. After falling behind the Tar Heel lineup for the third time, Beam managed to score only one run in the sixth inning on a blast by Vance Honeycutt. But Kirby Connell emerged from the bullpen and relieved that jam in the sixth inning.

In the meantime, Sprague struggled mightily against the Volunteers through the first three innings until things fell apart in the fourth. Tears just blasted a shot out to right field to start the scoring with two men on and two outs. Sprague would pitch into the top of the fifth inning, allowing Reese Chapman to hit another home run. Sprague was done for good, and Tennessee managed to maintain solid control for the remainder of the match.

Through the first few innings, the Tar Heels’ strategy appeared to be to attack Beam early in the count by swinging at first or second pitches, setting up a scenario where Beam needed just roughly 20 pitches to finish the first three innings.

Ensley would eventually have to exit the game due to a probable concussion, so the play would come at a cost. The Vols’ two days off will be helpful, though it’s unclear how long he will be out or whether it was merely a precaution.

After receiving a day off, the Tar Heels must win three games in three days to move on to the Championship Series. Playing a strong Florida State team that let loose after a walk-off loss to Virginia earlier on Sunday, 7-3, makes the job harder. Right now, it’s unclear who will go first.

Heels went 2-0, but he hasn’t appeared in any game since LSU, over two weeks ago.

Also of note was a small change in the lineup, as Scott Forbes decided to sit a struggling Alberto Osuna in lieu of team captain Jackson Van De Brake. Van De Brake didn’t record a hit, but did draw a walk and was one of only two starters to avoid striking out—the other being Parks Harber.