Stetson ends its best season ever

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — For the second consecutive day, cleanup hitter Brooks Wilson came to the plate in the ninth inning with a chance to put the Stetson baseball team ahead in its NCAA Super Regional series against North Carolina.

And for the second straight day, the senior designated hitter hit crushed a fly ball tantalizingly toward the outfield wall and glory.

But Saturday, just as was the case on Friday, Wilson’s bid for a dramatic home run came up a few feet short. This time his drive off Tar Heels closer Josh Hiatt was caught by a leaping Brandon Riley just in front of the 400-foot sign in straightaway centerfield.

The close call provided a hauntingly familiar result, a 7-5 loss at Boshamer Stadium that ended the season for what coach Steve Trimper called “the greatest team in the history of Stetson baseball.”

“We talked early in the year about what our goals and aspirations are, and people used big words,” said Trimper, whose 48-13 team fell just two wins shy of a trip to the College World Series in Omaha. “They want to be the best. They want to go to Omaha.

“I can’t describe how hard this group has worked. But we talked about that and we walked the walk and grinded it out.”

That toughness forced UNC (43-18) to sweat it out until the final swing before being able to celebrate its first trip to Omaha since 2013, something that seemed like a long shot after the Tar Heels erupted for four runs off starter Jack Perkins in the top of the first.

Stetson spent the rest of the afternoon chipping away at the deficit, which grew as large as 6-1 after 2 1/2 innings.

The effort came to a head in the bottom of the ninth when the Hatters pulled to within two on a leadoff double by Austin Hale and and a two-out single by Mike Spooner. When Jacob Koos singled to extend the inning with his fifth hit of the Super Regional, Wilson came to the plate with a chance to make amends for his near miss a day earlier.

He sent a ball deep to center that had everyone on both sides holding their breath until Riley tracked it down.

“I thought I got it,” Wilson said. “Unfortunately I hit it to the deepest part of the field.”

Asked if it was frustrating to come so close to getting the big hit two days in a row with nothing to show for it, Wilson surprisingly said no.

“I’m thankful I was able to get both of those opportunities,” he said. “I did everything I could.”