University of North Carolina Athletics
Baseball Rally Comes Up One Run Short Against VCU
June 5, 2022 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL – Connor Hujack's eighth inning home run proved to the difference for VCU on Saturday as the top-seeded Tar Heels came up one run short, 4-3, in the Chapel Hill Regional winner's bracket game.
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North Carolina (39-20) will face Georgia in an elimination game Sunday at 1 p.m. with the winner advancing to play VCU (42-18) in the regional championship game at 6 p.m.
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Before hitting the game-winning home run in the eighth, Hujack pushed the Rams out to a 1-0 lead with a solo blast in the second inning. The score remained 1-0 until the seventh when VCU scored two runs on double down the left field line by Connor Benzin.
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The Tar Heels didn't go down without a fight.
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Vance Honeycutt homered to lead off the eighth and Danny Serretti hit a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth to pull Carolina within a run.
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Honeycutt and Alberto Osuna followed with back-to-back walks to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels the rally ended their as Mikey Madej popped up to end the game.
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Tomas Frick led the Heels with three hits, while Serretti and Madej collected two apiece.
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Despite only surrendering one run in 5.1 innings pitcher, Brandon Schaeffer (7-3) took and Campbell Ellis (5-4) earned the victory.
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NOTABLES
• UNC Head Coach Scott Forbes was ejected in the middle of the third inning. Forbes was issued a two-game suspension by the NCAA following the ejection.
• Honeycutt hit his 23rd home run of the season, moving into second place on the school's single season list.
• Shawn Rapp made his 41st pitching appearance of the season to move into a tie for fourth place on the program's single-season list.
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North Carolina (39-20) will face Georgia in an elimination game Sunday at 1 p.m. with the winner advancing to play VCU (42-18) in the regional championship game at 6 p.m.
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Before hitting the game-winning home run in the eighth, Hujack pushed the Rams out to a 1-0 lead with a solo blast in the second inning. The score remained 1-0 until the seventh when VCU scored two runs on double down the left field line by Connor Benzin.
Â
The Tar Heels didn't go down without a fight.
Â
Vance Honeycutt homered to lead off the eighth and Danny Serretti hit a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth to pull Carolina within a run.
Â
Honeycutt and Alberto Osuna followed with back-to-back walks to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels the rally ended their as Mikey Madej popped up to end the game.
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Tomas Frick led the Heels with three hits, while Serretti and Madej collected two apiece.
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Despite only surrendering one run in 5.1 innings pitcher, Brandon Schaeffer (7-3) took and Campbell Ellis (5-4) earned the victory.
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NOTABLES
• UNC Head Coach Scott Forbes was ejected in the middle of the third inning. Forbes was issued a two-game suspension by the NCAA following the ejection.
• Honeycutt hit his 23rd home run of the season, moving into second place on the school's single season list.
• Shawn Rapp made his 41st pitching appearance of the season to move into a tie for fourth place on the program's single-season list.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ellis, Campbell (5-4)
L: Schaeffer, Brandon (7-3)
S: Wilson, Nolan (3)

Batting:
HR: Serretti, Danny 1 ; Honeycutt, Vance 1
RBI: Serretti, Danny 2 ; Honeycutt, Vance 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Serretti, Danny 1 ; Honeycutt, Vance 1 ; Alvarez, Patrick 1
HBP: Wilkerson, Colby 1

Batting:
2B: Benzin, Cooper 1
HR: Hujsak, Connor 2
RBI: Hujsak, Connor 2 ; Benzin, Cooper 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hujsak, Connor 2 ; Mathis, AJ 1 ; Carlone, Will 1
SB: Carlone, Will 1
Game Leaders
Monday, June 22
Sunday, June 21
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