Austin Love Fans Nine In 3-0 Loss To DBU

Sunday, February 23

Chapel Hill, N.C.

1 p.m.

North Carolina

Dallas Baptist University

Photo by: Joe Bray

February 23, 2020 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Aury St. Germain

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Pitching highlighted the low-scoring affair for fans inside Boshamer Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as No. 22 North Carolina fell to Dallas Baptist 3-0 to end the series.

Austin Love was impressive in relief for UNC, as he retired the first 10 batters he faced after coming in the fourth inning with one out. Love finished the game on the mound for the Tar Heels and ended with nine strikeouts, a career-high.

The Tar Heel offense struggled to get going and recorded its first hit in the eighth inning, when Joey Lancellotti blasted a single through the left side of the infield. North Carolina put two runners on base with one out in the inning, but left each stranded.

Key Moments

Dallas Baptist scored the first run in the ballgame after a UNC error.
The Patriots followed it up with an RBI groundout to hold a 2-0 lead at the end of the opening frame.
The Tar Heels ended the top of the third inning with a double play that started with Danny Serretti at shortstop, went through Mikey Madej at second base and ended with Aaron Sabato at first base.
Love made an immediate impact out of the bullpen for the Tar Heels in the fourth inning, striking out the only two batters he faced.
Love retired the first 10 batters he faced before walking a Patriot in the seventh inning, the club's only walk of the day.
Joey Lancellotti broke up DBU's no-hitter in the eighth inning with a single to left field.
The Tar Heels threatened in the eighth, with runners on second and third with one out, but left both stranded
DBU extended its lead to 3-0 with a solo home run in the ninth frame.

Noteables

Austin Love's nine strikeouts were a career-high
Lancellotti and Madej recorded the only Tar Heel hits
Connor Ollio surrendered his first loss of the season
Will Stewart recorded a team-high 12 putouts
Today was the first time the Tar Heels have been shutout since May 18, 2019 against NC State (11-0)
Angel Zarate found himself on base for the eighth-straight game
The Tar Heels have outscored their opponents 55-18 on the year
UNC committed a season-high four errors

Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Mike Fox
On today's game and the overall series
"We saw as good of arms as you are going to see this weekend. Three-straight days and out of the bullpen, and we knew that. The reason we scheduled them is because Dallas Baptist is a regional caliber team and we felt like with our team we needed to put them in that situation. You do not see this kind of box score very often- one walk and 14 strikeouts for both teams. I'm proud of our guys for competing."

Austin Love, R-Sophomore RHP
On coming into during low scoring game
"You just have to steady the ship. I just was coming in knowing I had to keep the score the same. I hoped our team would get a few runs up there, which I know that we are capable of doing. We just didn't have the bats today, but I know next time it will work out differently."

Joey Lancellotti, Junior RHP
On takeaways from today
"The big thing I saw today was when we were down 2-0 and we were getting no-hit. I'm looking around at my teammates and seeing all the guys with high energy and lots of confidence. I think in the long run that will help us so much. Getting over losing a series is difficult, especially when you've got a game Tuesday and fly out for another series on Thursday. This is the kind of team that has enough confidence to still be upset about today, but by the time Tuesday rolls around, will be able to put it in their back pocket and go out ready for a win."

Up Next
Carolina plays host to NC A&T on Tuesday (Feb 25). The Tar Heels and Aggies will honor the 100th anniversary of Negro League Baseball that day. NC A&T is a top-flight research university, the largest historically black university in the country, the No. 1 producer of degrees awarded to African Americans in the state and is nationally recognized for excellence in science, technology, mathematics and engineering.