Game management dooms Heels
The attention placed on North Carolina's disastrous eighth inning Monday night that ended up costing them the national championship has been on second baseman Bryan Steed's throwing error that allowed Oregon State's Bill Rowe to score the eventual winning run.
The demise actually began with two outs and nobody on and Rowe standing in the batters' box - when UNC coach Mike Fox went to the mound to talk to starter Daniel Bard.
Bard had retired 13 straight Beavers to that point - with his fastballs registering 97 mph on the scoreboard radar gun. But Fox had lefty ace Andrew Miller ready and waiting in the bullpen.
After a lengthy discussion on the mound, Fox ended up leaving Bard in the game - but the righty was clearly rattled, and he walked Rowe on five pitches before surrendering a bloop single to Tyler Graham.
Miller then relieved Bard and got the one-hop grounder from pinch hitter Ryan Gipson that Steed misplayed into history.
"This is not ever about one player, it's never about one pitch," Fox said after the game. "This is a team sport. I love Bryan Steed to death. So do his teammates.
"It's as much me. I mismanaged the game a couple times. ... You can put any of that on me. We're not putting any of it on the players. That's for sure," Fox said.
- Chris Graham