UNC wins play-in game against NC State to open ACC Tournament

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The game between two in-state rivals might have lasted nearly four hours and ended in a one-run UNC win, but that was just about the only part of the opening game of the ACC Tournament between UNC and NC State that was reminiscent of last season.

Last year, the Tar Heels and the Wolfpack faced off five times (two during a regular-season series and three in the postseason), including an epic 18-inning ACC Tournament showdown (which UNC won 2-1).

The teams would meet twice more in the College World Series, splitting the two meetings with UNC ultimately ending NC State's season. But it was one to be proud of, one that ended in the Wolfpack's first College World Series appearance since 1968 and a 50-16 record.

UNC fell to UCLA (the eventual national champs) in its next game to end the year at 59-12.

This year, everyone thought the momentum would continue for both programs, which were preseason top 20 teams (UNC at No. 17, NC State at No. 5).

Except, it didn't.

North Carolina (33-23) was the No. 7 seed in this year's ACC Tournament, and had to face No. 10-seed NC State (32-23) on a Tuesday in the first meeting between the two teams this season just for the right to advance to pool play, which they did with a 4-3 win.

The teams were supposed to meet earlier this season in a special one-off game in Durham, but it got rained out. It felt like destiny that the two would meet again. Maybe it would be as special a game as it was last year.

But it looked like exactly what it was -- a play-in game between two teams fighting for their postseason lives, not two of the best teams in the country. There was plenty of fight in both teams, if not a lot of crisp execution.

UNC committed three errors, and the teams combined to use 11 different pitchers and leave 19 men on base, not to mention hit a combined 3-of-22 with runners in scoring position.

That, ultimately, was NC State's undoing at the end of the day as the Wolfpack went 1-for-6 with the bases loaded and left 11 men on base.

"We just couldn't get over that hump," said NC State junior first baseman Trea Turner. "We had good situations and opportunities to score runs and we just couldn't -- what's the word? -- execute, I guess."

NC State struck first with a run in the first inning, and UNC evened things up in the second with a solo home run. Then UNC tacked on three more in the third to go up 4-1 before NC State quickly answered with two in the fourth to cut it to 4-3.

The Wolfpack had one of its best chances in the fifth inning, but Turner was thrown out trying to steal home with the bases loaded after a strikeout. The Wolfpack had the bases loaded with no outs and got no runs out of it.

But the play at the plate was close, and some replays seemed to indicate that Turner was safe. Turner said as much, too.

"I know Mark Chapman is a good umpire, one of the best in the league. He's a better person than he is umpire and he's a good umpire," said NC State head coach Elliott Avent of the call. "Is he going to hate this film? Probably."

NC State would leave men on base in three of its final four innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the eighth. UNC's staff ace Trent Thornton came on to close out the Wolfpack, inheriting runners at second and third with no outs. NC State just could not get a run across, striking out twice and flying out for the final out of the inning.

The fifth-inning call, erasing a run that would have tied the game, did not deflate the team, according to Turner.

"That was the best energy we have had all year as a team," said Turner. "We knew what was at stake and I don't think that took anything out of us."

The game was also missing one familiar face from last year's meetings -- top prospect Carlos Rodon. Sort of.

The junior lefty started three of the five meetings between UNC and NC State a year ago, and in his NC State career, he started in four postseason games against UNC. In those games, Rodon pitching 33 innings, allowed 14 hits, two earned runs, walked seven and struck out 40.

And NC State went 1-3.

That's not dissimilar to the Wolfpack's fate this year, both in terms of Rodon's success and the team's, as well.

Rodon ended the season with a 6-7 record but a 2.01 ERA, striking out 117 and walking just 31 while allowing a total of 22 earned runs.

There was talk prior to the game that Rodon might be available to pitch against the Tar Heels one last time -- he had pitched last three days ago in Blacksburg in an NC State win, and this would have been his throw day anyway. Avent danced around the question before the game, but when it began, it was reliever Eric Peterson on the mound and not Rodon.

Rodon insisted on starting against UNC in the College World Series last season, also on just three days of rest. But with everything at stake for Rodon -- he's still projected to be a possible No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Draft on June 5, and certainly a top-5 pick -- not to mention the comparatively low stakes, Avent thought better of it.

"We just weren't going to pitch him on three days (of) rest with all he's done for this University," said Avent. "He's done so much we weren't going to ask more than we should have asked for, so that was an easy decision for us."

Rodon did start at DH, though, and went 0-for-3 with a walk.

The Wolfpack -- No. 54 in the most recent RPI, probably out of at-large selection range -- likely knew their postseason lives hung in the balance of this game. But NC State still would have likely had to win at least one more. Avent, though, still lobbied for his team, which won 11 of its final 15 games.

"The schedule we play is a very tough schedule and everybody is good. We were on the road a lot early, a lot of weather situations that I'm not saying we didn't handle it well, it was just like at one point, what else can happen? So we didn't get off to a good start for whatever reason," said Avent. "With the schedule we had in front of us and what we had to overcome, it's just amazing that they could do enough against good teams to get here and to play this well.

"That's what I'€™ll always remember and ... I hope it's not over. I hope the Committee understands this is a great baseball team and a team that shouldn't be left out of the NCAA Tournament in a league that's as powerful as the ACC."

UNC was in a little bit better shape RPI-wise, but the Tar Heels could use all the wins they could get. They were 44th in the most recent RPI, and it certainly won't hurt their strength of schedule when pool play starts on Friday.

The Tar Heels advance to a pool with Florida State (3rd in the RPI), Virginia (No. 1) and Maryland (No. 28).

The defending ACC champs look to be in good shape to return to the ACC Tournament, but for right now, they're just happy to still be playing.

"We knew this was a very important game for us," said UNC head coach Mike Fox. "Just didn't want to take any chances on maybe what could happen going further here. We just wanted to stay alive, stay in this tournament as long as we keep playing."