Winthrop loses close one to No. 2 North Carolina

By Staff Reports - Staff Reports

CARY, N.C. -- Winthrop couldn't overcome a three-run seventh inning and fell to No. 2 North Carolina on Tuesday, 4-1.

"There's no such thing as a moral victory, but we played a pretty good ballgame against the second-best team in the country," coach Joe Hudak said. "We had a chance to win the game until the seventh inning."

The Tar Heels (43-9) only mustered one hit through the first three innings but found their stroke in the sixth. Kyle Shelton belted a solo home run off Matteo D'Angelo (0-2), tying the score at 1.

In the seventh, Kyle Seager led off with a single and Tim Federowicz drove him home with a double for a 2-1 lead. Garrett Gore bunted for a single and moved to second base on Aaron Bonomi's error, which allowed Federowicz to score.

Seth Williams lashed a single and Mark Fleury hit into a fielder's choice that scored Gore. UNC squashed Winthrop's bats for the duration and denied Hudak his 800th career win on his first try.

Winthrop's only run came in the fourth, when Eddie Tisdale doubled and Eddie Rohan hit another double. Bryn Henderson had two singles and two stolen bases.

Catcher John Murrian, recovering from a fractured hand, had one pinch-hit at-bat but Billy Froehlich took over behind the dish.

Winthrop (22-31) will end the regular season at UNC Asheville beginning Friday. Game 1 of the three-game series is set for 7 p.m.