'Cats Upset Stifled In Extras at No. 3 UNC

Tuesday, May 9

Chapel Hill, N.C.

6:00 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

24-22

No. 3 North Carolina

38-9

Davidson

North Carolina

Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com

5/9/2017 9:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

DavidsonPhotos.com
Box Score (PDF)

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Despite leading by three runs and limiting No. 3 North Carolina to two hits heading into the ninth inning, Davidson baseball dropped an extra-inning heartbreaker Tuesday, falling 7-6 in ten innings at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill.

The 'Cats slip to 24-22 on the year, while Carolina picks up their seventh straight victory and moves to 38-9.

The 'Cats blasted four home runs in the contest, their most in a single game this season. Senior Will Robertson belted bombs in back-to-back at bats as he tallied three RBI, and three other 'Cats picked up two hits each.

Junior Cam Johnson and senior Jake Sidwell also homered, while sophomore Justin Lebek led the way with three hits, including two infield singles he beat out. Classmate Max Bazin also cranked out two hits to join Johnson and Robertson.

Sophomore starting pitcher Josh Hudson, who made his third start against ranked opposition this season, again put together a solid outing, where he struck out five and did not allow a hit in his 5.2 innings.

For the fourth time in as many contests, the 'Cats started the scoring right away, plating two runs in the opening frame. After Johnson singled up the middle, Robertson hit his first shot, sailing over left center.

The 'Heels cut the lead in half after three straight walks loaded the bases and a sacrifice fly brought a runner home.

Robertson then went yard, again, putting the 'Cats again ahead by two. He has now hit three homers in his last two games, and increased his reached-base streak to 41 games, second-best in program history.

Carolina plated another run without recording a hit in the sixth, taking advantage of another pair of walks and a fielding error to cut the deficit to just one run.

Sidwell widened the gap in the seventh, launching a ball just over the right field wall at the line, penciling the score at 5-2 after Lebek, who singled, also trotted home.

Johnson added what would have seemed like the final piece of insurance in the eighth, also sending the ball out over right field. He, too, has now homered in back-to-back games.

Back-to-back walks led off the ninth for Carolina, and a sacrifice fly brought the second out and a run in to make it 6-4. The 'Heels then used three straight gap singles to tie the game, forcing the 'Cats into extras for just the third time this season.

Another set of back-to-back walks led off the tenth for the Tar Heels, followed by a walk-off double to secure the stolen victory.

Davidson threatened in multiple innings, leaving at least one man on in five frames, leaving the bases loaded once and two on in another. The pitching staff was plagued by walks, surrendering a season-high 16.

Tuesday marks just the third time this season that the 'Cats have lost despite outhitting an opponent. They recorded 11 hits to North Carolina's five.

Davidson returns to action Wednesday, welcoming Winthrop for a special home game at BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte. First pitch is slated for 6:05.