CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - One day after North Carolina's bullpen imploded, Austin Bergner and Austin Love combined for a clutch pitching performance in a six-hit, 2-0 shutout of Auburn on Sunday as the Tar Heels forced a deciding third game in their super regional with a spot in the College World Series on the line Monday.
Love, who had surrendered two hits and two runs in one inning in the series opener, tied his season high with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings of relief Sunday to improve his record to 8-4. North Carolina had given up nine runs in the final two innings of the opener as Auburn rallied to win 11-7.
"Yesterday I was falling behind in the count a lot," Love said. "Today I was trying to make sure every first pitch was a strike."
No. 14 seed North Carolina (46-18) got off to a good start in the first inning this time, against Auburn starter Bailey Horn (4-1), as Ike Freeman delivered a two-run single with one out. But the Tigers (37-26) made timely pitches the rest of the way to stay within striking distance as the Tar Heels tied a season high with 14 runners left on base.
Bergner, who gave up four hits , worked out of a jam in the first inning by striking out Rankin Woley with the bases loaded. Auburn also had a chance to score after chasing Bergner with consecutive hits in the fifth.
Love replaced Bergner and got Will Holland to fly out to right field before Edouard Julien hit a blast to center field that was tracked down by Dylan Harris and caught just short of the wall.
"I don't think Julien could have hit the ball any harder to the deepest part of this ballpark," Auburn coach Butch Thompson said. "I thought both teams competed like crazy today. I thought it was an unbelievable game."
Love said his teammates stayed positive with the pitchers after the bullpen's struggles a day earlier. Love rewarded them by throwing 41 strikes in 50 pitches, and the Tar Heels improved to 35-7 at home this season.
"We were fortunate to get a couple runs early, and then our pitching was just sensational," North Carolina coach Mike Fox said. "And (Love) out of the bullpen was just a phenomenal performance. We played good defense behind them and got us a win."