OMAHA—Arizona State has capitalized on North Carolina’s inability to throw strikes to break open today’s elimination game. When the Tar Heels have actually managed to throw the ball over the plate, ASU has pounded the ball. This game was tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but Arizona State has sent 13 hitters to the plate, scoring eight runs on four walks and five hits. In this game, UNC pitchers have issued 10 walks, unleashed five wild pitches and hit two batters. Ugly.

The Tar Heels are on their sixth pitcher of the game, but to coach Mike Fox’s credit, he has not brought back Alex White on three days’ rest after the ace righty threw 131 pitches against ASU on Sunday. Kudos to Fox for protecting White’s valuable right arm, even though the Tar Heels sure could have used somebody to stop the bleeding today.

It’s 12-4 Arizona State heading into the eighth. We’ll have plenty more on Kole Calhoun (who has six RBIs today) and the Sun Devils after postgame.