CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — High Point baseball traveled to down the road to face No. 18 North Carolina in a non-conference mid-week matchup at Boshamer Stadium. It was a tough game for the Panthers as UNC stretched out on a 14-run lead, taking the game 16-2.
Site: Boshamer Stadium
Score: High Point 2, No. 18 North Carolina 16
Records: High Point (6-10), #18 North Carolina (14-5)
In the Panthers first at bat, the team touched down two hits, a single from leadoff
Brett Ahalt and a single from
Adam Stuart. With an opportunity to score, HPU ended the inning leaving two runners on the corners.
In UNC's first time at the plate, the leadoff batter gave the Tar Heels a one run lead early with a single RBI homer over left center field. After the one run, the Panthers ended the inning with a 5-4-3 double play.
UNC kept the runs going in the bottom of the second, scoring four off three hits. On the mound,
Teddy Merritt struck out a batter after the Tar Heels scored their first three runs of the inning. A sacrifice fly scored the fourth run before a pop up to
Cael Chatham at third closed the inning.
Going into the top of the third, Ahalt got on from an error by the second baseman. A walk for
Javon Fields and Chatham loaded the bases with one out. A shot to the third baseman from Stuart allowed Ahalt to score the first run of the day for the Panthers.
The Tar Heels added three more runs in the bottom of the third, advancing to an 8-1 lead.
High Point started the fourth with a double to left center field by
Charlie Klingler.
Trenton Pallas followed up with a single shot to center field, placing runners on first and third. A sacrifice fly to right field from
Jackson Melton gave Klingler time to slide in at home.
After the fourth inning, the Panthers struggled to find the gaps at the plate. Getting no runs, no hits and three base runners through the final five innings.
UNC went on to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth and six runs in the bottom of seventh making it hard for the Panthers to chip away and close the gap.
Up Next: The Panthers return home to host their first Big South Conference series against the visiting Blue Hose of Presbyterian College. The series kicks off on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
#GoHPU
