CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Rutgers baseball dropped a tight 9-8 contest to No. 13/15 North Carolina on Wednesday evening at Boshamer Stadium. 

The Scarlet Knights (10-6) took an early lead and came within one run in the seventh and ninth innings, but were unable to upset the nationally ranked Tar Heels (16-2).

In the top of the first, RU was able to load the bases with no outs, but could only plate one run on a double play. UNC took the lead in the bottom half, scoring on an RBI double and RBI groundout. 

With Rutgers throwing a bullpen game, Donovan Zsak got the ball for the second and threw a pair of scoreless innings to keep the Tar Heel lineup at bay. The Scarlet Knights would then tie the game in the top of the third after Trevor Cohen led off with a single and scored on an error,

North Carolina once again responded – this time with two in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. 

The Canadian contingent for Rutgers got a run back in the sixth when Hugh Pinkney doubled into the left field corner to score Ty Doucette from second and make it 5-3. A pair of wild pitches in the bottom half made it 7-3.

The Scarlet Knights made it a one-run game when they hung a crooked number in the seventh. Pete Durocher doubled down the third base line to score Cohen and make it 7-4. With two men on, Doucette lifted a fly ball into left field and the Tar Heel fielder was unable to make the catch, scoring a pair of runs and making it 7-6.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, UNC got two insurance runs on a two-run homer to bring it to 9-6. 

Jordan Sweeney was able to get RU back in the game with his first home run of the season in the top of the ninth, a two-run shot that scored Durocher and brought the score to 9-8. The rally ended there, as North Carolina recorded the next two outs to secure the victory. 

Rutgers returns to action this weekend for a three-game set at Delaware, with game one set for 4 p.m. on Friday.  

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