Tar Heels rally late but fall to USF, 4-3

Friday, February 16

Tampa, Fla.

7:00 p.m.

North Carolina

0-1

South Florida

1-0

North Carolina

Bulls

Photo by Todd Montgomery

February 16, 2018 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

By: T.J. Scholl

Tampa, Fla. – No. 6 North Carolina's late-game rally fell just short as they lost their 2018 season opener 4-3 against USF on Friday night in Tampa at USF Baseball Field. Despite lead off batters going 5-9 on the night, the Tar Heels went 3-25 with runners on base and stranded 12 base runners in a tight game one of the three-game series.

USF got things started in the bottom of the second inning with a two-out single by Alec Wisely that brought home two runners to give the Bulls the early 2-0 lead. USF loaded the bases with three infield singles before Gianluca Dalatri battled back to strike out the next two batters. But, with a 2-2 count on Wisely he punched one to left field that brought home the runners from second and third and the Tar Heels went in to the top of the third down, 2-0.

The Bulls tacked on runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to take a 4-0 lead before the Heels bats came alive in the top of the seventh inning.

Ike Freeman got things started with a leadoff single before Kyle Datres followed suit with a two-out single to put runners on first and second for Michael Busch. Busch smacked a three-run home run to right-center to bring the Heels within one, 4-3, as they headed in to the bottom of the seventh.

UNC would strand a few runners over the next two innings as they couldn't complete the comeback as they fell to USF, 4-3.

The Tar Heels will be back in action Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET as they look to even the series before finishing the three-game set on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET.