Tar Heels Fall To Xavier, 2-1

Friday, February 21

Chapel Hill

4:00 PM

North Carolina

Xavier

February 22, 2014 | Baseball

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL --- No. 12 North Carolina fell to 1-3 on the year Friday with a 2-1 loss to Xavier at Boshamer Stadium. Junior right-hander Benton Moss took the loss despite tossing a solid 7.1 innings in his second outing, allowing just six hits and two runs while striking out four.

Xavier (4-0) got on the board first with two runs in the third inning with two outs. After getting the first two batters to ground out, Moss allowed back-to-back doubles followed by a single to go down 2-0 early.

Carolina didn't wait long to try and close the gap when the Tar Heels scored in the fourth inning. Wood Myers drew a leadoff walk before stealing second - the freshman's first career stolen base. He advanced to third and scored on back-to-back singles from Skye Bolt and Michael Russell, getting the Tar Heels within one.

That was all that UNC would get against Xavier starter Adam Hall, however, as the righty allowed just four hits and one run over 6.0 innings. The Musketeer bullpen was even more impressive, allowing just two baserunners - a walk and a hit batter - over the final three frames.

Brad Kirschner pitched two scoreless innings before Daniel Przeniczny worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the year.

Joe Forney led Xavier's 8-hit attack with two hits, including an RBI double.

Zach Rice and Reilly Hovis combined to keep XU at bay over the final inning and two-thirds, allowing just a pair of singles.

Carolina will look to snap its first losing streak in over a year Saturday when the two teams square off at 2 p.m.