Struggles continue to mount for the sixth-ranked UNC baseball team in the opening stages of the 2018 campaign, as the Tar Heels were held to just two hits Friday evening in Greenville in a 2-1 loss to the East Carolina Pirates.

Starting pitcher Trey Benton picked up the win on the mound for ECU (5-0), striking out 11 hitters across six innings.

For UNC (2-4), it’s the team’s third consecutive loss.

The Pirates got on the board in the bottom of the second inning against Tar Heel starter Gianluca Dalatri after leading off the frame with back-to-back hits–including a double off the left-field wall by Chandler Jenkins.

Two runs would eventually score in the inning, with ECU piling up four of its 12 total hits for the day.

UNC cut the margin in half against Benton in the very next inning following a sacrifice fly by Ike Freeman. The play was set up after Dylan Enwiller was hit by a pitch and took second base on a failed pickoff attempt.

Brandon Martorano then singled Enwiller to third–the first of the Tar Heels’ two hits in the game–before Freeman was able to drive him home.

From there, however, it was smooth sailing for ECU.

A single from junior third baseman Kyle Datres in the bottom of the sixth represented the only other offense UNC was able to put together.

The final three innings saw Pirates’ reliever Tyler Smith hold the Tar Heels to just a single baserunner, which came when catcher Cody Roberts took ball four on a 3-2 count in the seventh.

Up Next:

UNC will look to rebound on Saturday, as the teams move their series to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for a game set to begin at 6 p.m.

 

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)