Horvath, Bullpen Boost Diamond Heels Over Charlotte

Tuesday, April 18

Chapel Hill, N.C.

6 p.m.

North Carolina

25-12

Charlotte

19-16

Charlotte

North Carolina

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

April 18, 2023 | Baseball

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By: UNC Athletics Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Mac Horvath hit his 14th home run of the season, Tomas Frick drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth, and No. 18 North Carolina defeated Charlotte 5-3 at Boshamer Stadium on Tuesday night.

Frick leads the team in RBIs and collected his 42nd in the sixth inning through the right side – which was vacated by the shift – to plate Horvath from third base to make it 3-2.

UNC (25-12) fell behind 2-0 in the first when Will Butcher delivered a two-out, two-run double.

The Tar Heels loaded the bases each of the first two innings, but the 49ers' concrete defense and pitching didn't crack until the third. Johnny Castagnozzi delivered an RBI single to left, and Colby Wilkerson was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to tie the game.

Charlotte hit seven Tar Heel batters.

Horvath added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh with a two-run homer, his first since March 25 against Duke.

"That was a really big swing of the bat from Horvath," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "He hasn't done that in a while, hit the ball over the wall. Hopefully, that'll be contagious like hitting is, and we can build on that."

Horvath finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Castagnozzi and Hunter Stokely also collected a pair of hits each.

UNC starter Cameron Padgett struck out a career-high five in 4.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits with a walk. He was chased after a one-out single in the fifth and 63 pitches thrown.

Dalton Pence (2-1) followed and induced a fly out and struck Jack Dragum to end the inning. Pence and Matt Poston allowed one run in 3.2 innings combined, and Kevin Eaise pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his fifth save.

"That's four of our top eight to 10 pitchers," Forbes said. "Poston and Eaise can both close, but Poston recovers like no other. I haven't coached many guys that can pitch like him with a rubber arm. You'll see Pence and Padgett pitch more tight games on the weekend."

Charlotte starter Hale Sims lasted only 0.1 innings before giving way to the bullpen. Donye Evans gave up two runs in 0.2 innings, and Collin Kramer (2-3) allowed one run – the go-ahead run – on six hits in 3.1 innings with three strikeouts and a walk.

Charlotte's Eli Weisner belted a pinch-hit home run in the eighth.

The Tar Heels return to the diamond Friday, April 21, as they open a three-game series against Boston College at Boshamer Stadium. The first pitch is slated for 6 p.m.