Nicholson’s at-bat

[HeWhoIsFondOfTheTarHeels]

There were SO many things that combined to win that game, but that at-bat in the 9th was gigantic. Already one out after one pitch. Take a nasty slider for a strike, then the 400-foot foul ball and he’s down 0-2. Fights off a 96 mph heater on the inside corner to stay alive. Looks at two 55-foot sliders, then fouls off another fastball at 95. Another breaking ball in the dirt, it’s 3-2, then he takes a fastball at the knees that’s 2 inches outside if that.

Puts the tying run on and assures that as long as French doesn’t hit into a DP, the top of the order will get a shot at it. So great that our 8 and 9 hitters did what they did when they did it.

 

[wboheels]

Him getting first-to-third on Carter's single was important too for Jake being able to sac-fly him in to tie

In addition to getting the fans going as well, that monster foul ball absolutely shook the pitcher, and probably to some degree their team and coaches.

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

And then went first to third to set up the sac fly. That ninth inning was Coop’s as much as it was anyone’s.

 

[Unc1999]

Monumental AB that could go down in UNC lore depending on what happens in the next 2 weeks….

 

[Unc1999]

To everyone’s point. Literally everyone had a hand in that. Don’t forget Shaff jumping on the first pitch he saw to left the ball to right. Could have easily been too selective and gotten into a negative count - Lessening the opportunity to hit a fly ball.

 

[HeelYeah2012]

Nicholson and French had the two most clutch ABs of the whole rally. Not going to lie, when Nicholson's ball went foul I had this sinking feeling that that was our chance and we had just narrowly missed it. What a job to work a walk.

And then as others have said, awesome job going 1st to 3rd on French's hit too. And something I haven't seen mentioned, he HELD THE BAG as he dove into third. Way too many times this year we've seen our baserunners overslide the bag and get tagged out on similar plays. I feel like I can recall at least once where that happened to Cooper himself. Great job going all out into the bag but not sliding past it in that situation.

 

[UNCHeels08]

Nicholson and French had the two most clutch ABs of the whole rally. Not going to lie, when Nicholson's ball went foul I had this sinking feeling that that was our chance and we had just narrowly missed it. What a job to work a walk.

And then as others have said, awesome job going 1st to 3rd on French's hit too. And something I haven't seen mentioned, he HELD THE BAG as he dove into third. Way too many times this year we've seen our baserunners overslide the bag and get tagged out on similar plays. I feel like I can recall at least once where that happened to Cooper himself. Great job going all out into the bag but not sliding past it in that situation.

Haha I was yelling for him to stay on the bag when I saw the headfirst slide for that same reason. Feel like starting a headfirst slide too late and coming off is becoming more and more common these days for whatever reason - obviously has happened multiple times for UNC but also have noticed it more in MLB as well.

 

[wsdog]

Was it Sanchez that kept talking about how most guys would strike out after that ball went foul?

 

[heelintheozarks]

Nicholson and French had the two most clutch ABs of the whole rally. Not going to lie, when Nicholson's ball went foul I had this sinking feeling that that was our chance and we had just narrowly missed it. What a job to work a walk.

And then as others have said, awesome job going 1st to 3rd on French's hit too. And something I haven't seen mentioned, he HELD THE BAG as he dove into third. Way too many times this year we've seen our baserunners overslide the bag and get tagged out on similar plays. I feel like I can recall at least once where that happened to Cooper himself. Great job going all out into the bag but not sliding past it in that situation.

Schaffner only saw one pitch but was also massive. Runner on 3rd, less than 2 outs, season on the line. You HAVE to hit the ball in the air. Strikeout or ground ball is likely fatal. But I had barely gotten the words "hit the ball in the air" out of my mouth and he did the job immediately.

 

[HeelYeah2012]

Schaffner only saw one pitch but was also massive. Runner on 3rd, less than 2 outs, season on the line. You HAVE to hit the ball in the air. Strikeout or ground ball is likely fatal. But I had barely gotten the words "hit the ball in the air" out of my mouth and he did the job immediately.

100% correct. I shouldn't have left Schaffner out because you're right, him getting the runner in from 3rd was huge, especially after the weekend we had been having at the plate with RISP. To be honest, I left Schaffner out because I had so much confidence he would do exactly what he did. But to come through and do the job in that situation was obviously still massive.

 

[UNC23NDME]

S/O to the umps too. They had a really good weekend, including the Coop AB.

Not easy to do when you’re calling balls and strikes for 2 of the best staffs in the country but they did a really good job all weekend behind the plate.

 

[RhinoPillBill]

S/O to the umps too. They had a really good weekend, including the Coop AB.

Not easy to do when you’re calling balls and strikes for 2 of the best staffs in the country but they did a really good job all weekend behind the plate.

Behind the plate umps were objectively terrible the entire series for both sides.

 

[UNC23NDME]

Behind the plate umps were objectively terrible the entire series for both sides.

What calls specifically?

Every big call they made was correct and neither team had many complaints throughout the weekend. Schaff is the only player I remember who was demonstrably upset at a strike 3.

 

[Kdp12]

You could tell that Coop was seeing the ball really well that at bat. Ball 4 wasn’t far outside either