Rams lose game to Tar Heels in bottom of the ninth

VCU Baseball lost Tuesday evening to UNC in Chapel Hill, NC when North Carolina sophomore Wes Moyer blasted a pinch-hit three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to put the final score at 7-6. VCU had the early 6-0 lead but UNC was able to rally and earn the win to move to 27-11. VCU fell to 26-10 overall with the loss.

In the first inning, UNC starter Bryan Phillips forced in the first run after senior right fielder Justin Mattison got on base with a single by hitting two VCU batters and walking a third. Freshman left fielder Joe Meador then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in junior third baseman Anthony Granato for the 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, the Rams increased their lead when Mattison got on base with a double, advanced to third on a single by Granato and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore catcher Jeff Parrish.

In the fourth, junior center fielder Eric Latura plated junior Robbie Gragnani and senior Danny Lopaze to put the Rams up 5-0. Later in the inning, Granato hit a base hit that sent home Latura to add one to the Rams’ lead.

In the bottom of the fourth the Tar Heels got on board when senior Sean Farrell got on base with a double, and was sent home on a sacrifice fly from catcher Chris Iannetta.

In the seventh, UNC’s freshman center fielder Blair Waggett hit a triple to send in freshman right fielder Mike Daniel. Waggett then crossed home on a wild pitch to make the score 6-3.

With two men out in the bottom of the ninth, UNC was at its final at bat when a VCU error on a ground ball hit by freshman Adam Weaver gave the Tar Heels another chance. A base hit by Waggett against VCU junior reliever Brian Marshall drove in a run, cutting UNC’s deficit to two. UNC’s Wes Moyer then hit a pinch-hit three-run homerun to win the game for the Tar Heels.

Junior Scott Senatore earned his first win of the season for UNC after pitching two scoreless innings. Michael Gross also helped in the UNC rally by pitching three shuout frames. VCU’s Marshall slipped to 2-4 for the season after giving up the game-winning homerun.

Despite the loss several Rams performed well, including Matt Prendergast who allowed only five hits in a career high 8 2/3 innings. Prendergast had six strikeouts, while walking only one batter. Mattison went 4-5 for the Rams. Granato, Lopaze, and junior second baseman Nick Jones all had two hits.

Friday, VCU returns to The Diamond for the first game of a three-game series with Colonial Athletic Association opponent Hofstra. The game starts at 7 p.m.