University of North Carolina Athletics
Heels Will Face High Point On Tuesday
February 26, 2018 | Baseball
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
For the first time since 1962, the North Carolina baseball team has started 0-3 at home, with its most recent loss being a 12-0 defeat against East Carolina on Sunday. That loss capped a 1-4 week for the Tar Heels. But with 47 games still left, including five before UNC's first Atlantic Coast Conference series, coach Mike Fox said now is not the time to panic.
"It's one game out of a lot," Fox said. "It seemed like more than one game; it seemed like about three there for a while. But you just have to look at it like that and kind of move on. You've got to forget this one pretty quickly."
The Tar Heels (3-5) will look to do that Tuesday, when they host High Point at 3 p.m. The Panthers are 4-3 on the young season and coming off a three-game sweep of Dayton. After that, UNC welcomes Liberty (6-1) to Boshamer Stadium for a three-game weekend series.
Lancellotti keeps impressing
One bright spot for the Tar Heels has been freshman Joey Lancellotti.
After surrendering a solo home run against South Florida in his UNC debut, Lancellotti looked sharp in three relief appearances last week, giving up two hits and two runs (one earned) across 4 2/3 innings. He struck out seven of the 17 batters he faced and didn't issue a walk.
During the preseason, Lancellotti, tabbed by Perfect Game as the No. 28 right-handed pitcher in the Class of 2017, said he occasionally worried about living up to some of the veteran pitchers on the Tar Heels' roster and in the ACC. But his performance so far has eased those concerns.
"Getting out there and doing well is what I was obviously hoping for," he said, "but it's definitely boosted my confidence to a point where now I'm saying, 'I can hang with these guys.'"
A two-way player, Lancellotti singled in his only at-bat this season. His future at-bats will likely come in late-game pinch-hitting situations and when he's unavailable out of the bullpen.
"Joey is a talent, and I think he's kind of got the 'it' factor, too," Fox said. "He's not scared out there, and he's going to play an important role in our bullpen."
McGee's approach
Before the season, Fox emphasized how difficult managing expectations can be for sophomores such as Ashton McGee, who hit .327 with seven homers and 46 RBIs to earn ACC Freshman of the Year honors last year. In six games this season, McGee is batting .100 (2-for-20). But he doesn't appear to be pressing.
"Nothing you can really do about it, honestly," he said. "It's done with. You've just gotta keep working and look for your next (at-bat) and not think too much about it. Last year was last year. I'm just trying to improve on this year."
Fox said Wednesday that some of McGee's troubles at the plate have been the result of mechanical issues. To help McGee's confidence, Fox said they spent some time last week watching videos of his best freshman at-bats.
- North Carolina and High Point have faced off 25 times in a series that dates back to 1972. The Tar Heels hold a 21-3-1 series lead.
- Carolina won the first meeting on March 21, 1972, a 3-2 win in the first ever game at Boshamer Stadium.
- The two's last meeting came on April 5, 2016 in Chapel Hill. Current Tar Heels Brandon Riley and Zack Gahagan each notched a hit, while Taylor Sugg wrapped up the win out of the bullpen with two scoreless innings.
Worth mentioning
- Two-out hitting proved to be a major key last week, when UNC's three opponents held a 13-1 edge in two-out RBIs. Combined, they batted .298 (17-for-57) with two outs, and the Tar Heels hit .143 (7-for-49).
- Through UNC's first six games, its leadoff hitters went a combined 3-for-24. That prompted Fox to pencil in Dallas Tessar into the leadoff spot on Saturday and Sunday. Although it was just two games, Tessar was productive in that role, going 4-for-8 with a double and a walk.
- Tyler Baum was impressive for most of his start Saturday. Through his first four innings, he allowed three hits and struck out six. He had surrendered just one run when he was pulled with two outs in the fifth, but he was charged with two more after Spencer Brickhouse hit a home run in the ensuing at-bat. Baum received a no-decision in the Tar Heels' 5-4 win. He's 8-0 in 17 career starts.
