Xavier University Athletics
Xavier University
North Carolina
No. 4 UNC Tops Xavier Baseball In Season Opener
02.17.12 | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2012
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The Xavier baseball team fell to the No. 4 Tar Heels of North Carolina 10-2 in the first game of Friday's season-opening double-header. With the loss, XU fell to 0-1 on the season while UNC's record stands at 1-0.
Redshirt sophomore starting pitcher Vinny Nittoli (0-1) was pegged with the loss. He went four innings and gave up eight hits and six earned runs. Freshman Alex Westrick pitched two innings in his first appearance as a Musketeer. Natahn Mutsch and Jordan Deeds each pitched one inning for XU.
Right fielder Mitch Elliot led the Musketeers offensively as he went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored a run. Daniel Rod and Seth Dawes each went 2-for-4 at the plate and junior Seth Willoughby posted his first home run of the season.
Kent Emmanuel (1-0) earned his first win of the season for UNC in six innings.
The Musketeers fell behind 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Tar Heel catcher Jacob Stallings brought home two runs with a bases-loaded single. Designated hitter Tom Zengel added two more for UNC with a two-RBI double.
UNC added two more in the bottom the eighth to extend the lead to 6-0.
The Musketeers got on the board in the top of the third when sophomore first baseman Brian Bruening belted a two-out RBI double to right center field that brought home Elliott.
Willoughby added a run with a solo homer down the left field line in the top of the sixth to make it a 6-2 ballgame in favor of UNC.
