Back at ya! UNC 10-run-rules Miami, preventing sweep after Canes did same to Tar Heels
On Friday, the University of Miami 10-run-ruled No. 15 North Carolina, smacking 16 hits in seven at-bats to open the weekend series by trouncing the Tar Heels.
On Sunday, North Carolina said, ‘Back at ya!’
The Tar Heels hit seven home runs, including a grand slam, walked home another and basically clobbered the Canes at the plate to win 18-6 by the 10-run rule the Atlantic Coast Conference instituted this season.
“It was a good old-fashioned you-know-what,’’ UM coach J.D. Arteaga said. “We came out the same as we always do, ready to play and going for a series sweep. ...Today, the game got out of hand when the bullpen came in and got really sloppy and didn’t pitch well at all and really didn’t give us a chance to come back.’’
After back-to-back impressive weekend victories with stellar pitching in each, the Miami Hurricanes fell apart on the mound and again couldn’t finish off a top-15 team Sunday at Mark Light Field.
The 10-run rule means a visiting team with at least a 10-run lead automatically wins after seven innings. A home team would win after 6 1/2 innings, such as in UM’s 14-1 win Friday night.
Miami dropped to 11-8 overall and 4-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while the Tar Heels rose to 17-4 and 4-2.
Last weekend, UM, which has come from behind in seven of its 11 victories, won the first two games against then-No. 13 Virginia before dropping the finale. But the Canes are 1-3 in midweek games.
“I don’t think to this point we’ve matched our opponents’ energy level mid-weeks,’’ Arteaga said. “It’s just natural when you’re playing the University of Miami or Florida or Florida State and you get some of the mid-majors that guys come in, and it’s [like] their Game 7. We’re either looking ahead or coming off a Florida series or a big series win against Virginia or a series like this against North Carolina. It’s natural, but we just cannot allow it to happen.
“We’re going to be successful when we play our style of game — high energy and aggressive.’’
North Carolina, which never trailed, scored two runs in each of the second and third innings on home runs by Alex Madera and Parks Harber. The other home runs came from Gavin Gallaher (grand slam; 4 for 6 with 6 RBI), Alberto Osuna, Luke Stevenson and Casey Cook’s in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Tar Heels had 17 hits and held UM to 8. UM freshman Jake Kulikowski hit his first career home run, good for 2 RBI in the third inning to narrow UNC’s lead to 4-2, and earned another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
“At that point, I’m just trying to do everything I can to drive runs in and help our team win,’’ Kulikowski said of the homer. “Looking back at it, of course you want to win but it was still a cool moment.”
Sunday’s UNC slugfest was the most runs ever scored by a Tar Heels team against the Hurricanes.
Miami’s first six batters struck out against left-handed starter Shea Sprague (three runs, two earned, in 3 1/3 innings).
UNC right-handed sophomore reliever Matthew Matthijs (8-1, 3.12 ERA) allowed one hit and one walk in 2/3 of an inning for the victory. Matthijs was the same pitcher who got the loss Friday night by allowing Dorian Gonzalez’s walk-off homer in the ninth inning.
Hurricanes left-handed junior Herick Hernandez (2-2, 4.32) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings for the loss.
The Canes next meet FIU at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Mark Light Field.
Injury update
Arteaga said right-handed pitcher Drew Dwyer is expected to be available Tuesday. He said fellow right-handed pitchers Chris Diaz and Julian Hernandez will throw bullpen early this week to see how they feel afterward for possible availability next weekend at Notre Dame.
Right-handed pitcher Jordan Vargas will likely be out another three weeks.
This story was originally published March 17, 2024 at 4:14 PM.
