University of North Carolina Athletics
Tuesday, May 9
Chapel Hill, N.C.
6 p.m.
North Carolina
30-17
5
vs
4
Gardner-Webb
27-20
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9
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Gardner-Webb
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North Carolina
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Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Bases Loaded Balk Helps Baseball Defeat Gardner-Webb
May 9, 2023 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Gardner Webb reliever Phil Fox's balk with the bases loaded allowed Mac Horvath to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and North Carolina rallied to defeat the Runnin' Bulldogs 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Fox (3-3) replaced Grant Vera, to start the eighth after a bench-clearing altercation at the end of the seventh.
After intentionally walking Tomas Frick to load the bases, Fox's throwing error home allowed Vance Honeycutt to score the tying run with one out. Fox balked before throwing another pitch as the Boshamer Stadium crowd roared.
"We have to start every game the rest of the year like somebody just did the same thing," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "That's how we have to play.
"I want our guys to play with emotion. When that game starts between the white lines, you want to be ready to [compete] and match whatever we're facing. They need that chip."
The win marked the 100th of Forbes' head coaching career.
Matt Poston earned his fourth save when he struck out Pete Capobianco, looking to end the game after retiring the first two batters in succession.
Horvath put the Tar Heels ahead 2-0 with his 20th home run in the second, becoming the second player in school history to with 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same season.
"It was a goal of mine coming into this season," Horvath said. "Honestly, I'm just glad we won today because if I had got it and we lost, I probably wouldn't be too happy."
Horvath went 3-for-4 with three runs, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
The Bulldogs hit three consecutive homers in the fourth to take a one-run lead, but Reece Holbrook's safety squeeze bunt in the sixth tied the game.
Humberto Torres hit his second blast of the game to lead off the seventh and put Gardner-Webb back in front.
Kevin Eaise (3-3) struck out three batters in two innings to earn the win.
The Tar Heels will return to ACC play Thursday as they open a three-game series against NC State at Boshamer Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Fox (3-3) replaced Grant Vera, to start the eighth after a bench-clearing altercation at the end of the seventh.
After intentionally walking Tomas Frick to load the bases, Fox's throwing error home allowed Vance Honeycutt to score the tying run with one out. Fox balked before throwing another pitch as the Boshamer Stadium crowd roared.
"We have to start every game the rest of the year like somebody just did the same thing," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "That's how we have to play.
"I want our guys to play with emotion. When that game starts between the white lines, you want to be ready to [compete] and match whatever we're facing. They need that chip."
The win marked the 100th of Forbes' head coaching career.
Matt Poston earned his fourth save when he struck out Pete Capobianco, looking to end the game after retiring the first two batters in succession.
Horvath put the Tar Heels ahead 2-0 with his 20th home run in the second, becoming the second player in school history to with 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in the same season.
"It was a goal of mine coming into this season," Horvath said. "Honestly, I'm just glad we won today because if I had got it and we lost, I probably wouldn't be too happy."
Horvath went 3-for-4 with three runs, finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
The Bulldogs hit three consecutive homers in the fourth to take a one-run lead, but Reece Holbrook's safety squeeze bunt in the sixth tied the game.
Humberto Torres hit his second blast of the game to lead off the seventh and put Gardner-Webb back in front.
Kevin Eaise (3-3) struck out three batters in two innings to earn the win.
The Tar Heels will return to ACC play Thursday as they open a three-game series against NC State at Boshamer Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Eaise, Kevin (3-3)
L: FOX, Phil (3-3)
S: Poston, Matt (4)
Batting:
HR: BURNS, Alec 1 ; MATTSON, Trevor 1 ; TORRES, Humberto 2
RBI: BURNS, Alec 1 ; MATTSON, Trevor 1 ; TORRES, Humberto 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BURNS, Alec 1 ; MATTSON, Trevor 1 ; TORRES, Humberto 2
SB: MARCOS, Jacob 1 ; BLACK, Mark 1
HBP: MARCOS, Jacob 1
Batting:
2B: Horvath, Mac 1
HR: Horvath, Mac 1
RBI: Horvath, Mac 2 ; Holbrook, Reece 1
SH: Holbrook, Reece 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Honeycutt, Vance 2 ; Horvath, Mac 3
HBP: Cook, Casey 1 ; Holbrook, Reece 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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OF
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RHP
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