Virginia Baseball: UVA Falls 8-1 to the Heels, Go for the Series Sunday

In the game of baseball, mistakes can be a killer and you can't defeat yourself if you want to win. On Saturday, the Cavaliers beat themselves falling 8-1 to the North Carolina Tar Heels. Ten walks and two errors proved too much to overcome as in addition, the Hoos' bats were stymied by a quality start by North Carolina's J.B. Bukauskas.

Adam Haseley pitched well for Virginia, though mistakes by his defense proved costly in the sixth inning. After Adam Pate led off with a single, Tyler Ramirez reached on a throwing error while trying to move Pate to second with a bunt. After a bunt moved the runners into scoring position, both Pate and Ramirez scored when Justin Novak's throw home on the squeeze attempt went into the dugout giving the Tar Heels a 3-0 lead. That would be it for Haseley who went 5.1 innings giving up five runs (only one earned), on five hits, two walks, and added two strike outs.

The sixth didn't get much better as a walk with the bases loaded and a balk plated two more runs as UNC led 5-0.

Pavin Smith was the only bright spot at the plate for Virginia going 3-4 with two doubles, including one that plated Matt Thaiss for Virginia's only run of the game.

Virginia will go for the series win on Sunday at 12 p.m. and look for their first win on a Sunday since Feb 28th. Alec Bettinger will get the nod for Virginia in hopes of pulling even with the Tar Heels for second place in the ACC Coastal.