A standing ovation at Boshamer Stadium ushered Ryan Lynch into the dugout when he finally stepped off the mound Friday.
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The sophomore starter had just delivered a gem through five innings, but was beginning to fade in the top of the sixth. He’d allowed three straight singles, but followed that with two outs on a grounder and strikeout looking. And so he was welcomed by raucous applause when he stepped away and handed the keys over to Walker McDuffie — UNC’s go-to-reliever — to, hopefully for the Tar Heels, get the final out of the inning.
But anyone who watches college baseball this time of year knows how fast these things can change. And change they did, as a grand slam from USC’s Dean Carpentier — the first grand slam allowed by UNC all season — helped lift Southern Cal to a come-from-behind 9-5 victory in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional. After an uncharacteristically poor night from their pitching staff, the Tar Heels now need two straight wins to claim the best-of-three series and advance to the College World Series.
USC went from down 5-2 to up 6-5 with the swing of Carpentier’s bat in the top of the sixth inning — one of five runs the Trojans scored that frame. It marked Carpentier’s fourth home run of the year and McDuffie’s third homer allowed all season. McDuffie has only given up two home runs, including this one, since February 22.
McDuffie has solidified himself as UNC’s go-to reliever, earning second-team All-ACC honors this season and posting a 2.94 ERA entering Friday. But he struggled against USC, allowing four earned runs on four hits. Lynch’s seven strikeouts on Friday — a single-game postseason record for the sophomore — will be diminished in the statsheet by the six hits and four runs allowed.
Senior right-handed pitcher Matthew Matthijs came in to relieve McDuffie in the top of the seventh, but was quickly replaced by freshman lefty Jackson Rose — who held the Trojans scoreless in the top of the eighth and ninth innings.
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Meanwhile, USC’s pitchers were dealing late into the game.
Mason Edwards, the Trojans’ ace and among the best pro prospects in the NCAA Tournament, left a bit to be desired with his start — allowing four runs on four hits through three innings. But USC’s Chase Herrell, Ben Cushnie and Andrew Johnson picked up the slack and held the Tar Heels to one run after the third inning.
The Tar Heels have come back from a 4-run deficit twice this season, but Friday would not be the third time.
The Trojans retired 10 straight UNC batters entering the ninth inning. A single from North Carolina shortstop Jake Schaffner kicked off the final frame, but second baseman Gavin Gallaher followed that up by hitting a ground ball into a double play.
After an Owen Hull single to shallow left field, Macon Winslow flied out to center field for the final out of the game.
The Tar Heels look to rebound from the loss in Game 2 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, which will take place Saturday at Boshamer Stadium at 2 p.m. A USC win would move the Trojans to the College World Series. UNC needs a win to force the deciding Game 3 on Sunday.
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