University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
13-32
North Carolina
32-13
UNC Asheville Battles But Falls to No. 4 North Carolina
05.01.2018 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The UNC Asheville baseball team battled with No. 4 North Carolina, but the nationally-ranked Tar Heels came out victorious, 11-5, on Tuesday at Boshamer Stadium.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
UNC Asheville starting pitcher Nick Boyles was very effective in his seventh start of the season. The senior twirled three innings and didn't allow any runs. He allowed two total hits, which both came in the second inning.
Jesse Juday was able to keep the nationally-ranked Tar Heels off the board in the fourth, as he only allowed one hit in the inning.
After connecting with only two hits in the first four frames, the Bulldog offense broke through in the fifth via a two-out rally. After a strikeout and fly out, Brandon Lankford started the rally with a single. Kole Harris followed with a walk, and they each advanced into scoring position thanks to a wild pitch. Joe Zayatz came in the clutch with a two-RBI single to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-0.
The lead quickly dissipated in the home half of the frame, as North Carolina took advantage of seven walks, four hits and a hit by pitch. With all of the offensive momentum, North Carolina totaled 10 runs in the inning to take its first lead of the game, 10-2.
After a quiet sixth inning, the Bulldogs cut into the deficit with a two-run seventh. Lankford started the rally with a leadoff double, and Harris plated his teammate via a fielding error by the Tar Heel left fielder. Later in the inning, Pagano scored Harris from third base off a sacrifice fly to make the contest 10-4.
The Tar Heels totaled a run in the bottom of the inning, which pushed the lead to seven runs.
After a quick eighth inning for both clubs, the Bulldogs were down to their final three outs, and they attempted a comeback. Zayatz earned a leadoff walk, and Pagano and Andrew Friedholm followed with back-to-back hit by pitches. With the bases loaded, Danny Wilson cracked a single to left to score Zayatz. That would be all the Bulldogs could muster in the ninth, as the Tar Heel relief pitcher struck out the final three batters and sealed the 11-5 win for No. 4 North Carolina.
Out of the leadoff role, Zayatz connected with a clutch, two-RBI single and a run scored. He also walked once in his five plate appearances.
Lankford had the lone multi-hit game for Asheville, as he connected with a double and a single. He touched home twice, which was tied for the team lead.
Harris tallied a hit and also touched home once, and Pagano finished the contest going 1-for-2, as he earned a RBI off a sacrifice fly.
Wilson earned the team's fourth RBI, as he went 1-for-4 in the mid-week contest.
Aside from Boyles' phenomenal start, freshman Tripp Barfield was impressive out of the bullpen. He worked one inning, where he didn't allow a run or walk in his appearance.
UNC Asheville falls to 12-32 overall, and No. 4 North Carolina moves to 32-13 on the year.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville will take the weekend off, but the Bulldogs return to the diamond on Wednesday, May 9, in Durham, N.C. to settle the season series with North Carolina Central.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lancellotti (3-3)
L: Harris, Brandon (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Serricchio, Tyler 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 1
RBI: Zayatz, Joe 2 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Wilson, Danny 1
SF: Pagano, Carmine 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zayatz, Joe 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 2 ; Harris, Kole 2
HBP: Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Friedholm, Andrew 1
Batting:
2B: Datres 1 ; Martorano 1
3B: Ladowski 1 ; McGee 1
RBI: Tessar 1 ; Inclan 1 ; Busch 1 ; Datres 1 ; Riley 2 ; Roberts 1 ; Martorano 2 ; Gahagan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tessar 1 ; Ladowski 1 ; Datres 1 ; Riley 1 ; McGee 2 ; Roberts 2 ; Martorano 2 ; Gahagan 1
SB: Riley 1
CS: Riley 1
HBP: Tessar 1 ; Freeman 1
