Chapel Hill, NC - The Wagner baseball team dropped its season opener on Friday evening to #15 North Carolina, 10-3, at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. Freshman Connor Roche and graduate student David Melfi homered in the loss.

The Seahawks held strong with the Tar Heels for five innings until a six-run sixth inning turned a two-run deficit into an eight-run deficit. From there, UNC maintained its lead despite a breakout performance from Roche.

The Westwood, NJ, native got the scoring started for the Green & White with an opposite field single in the top of the fifth, driving home junior Xavier Baker to make it a 2-1 game.

Roche's next at-bat in the seventh left the yard as the freshman clinched his first multi-hit effort of his career. Roche finished his collegiate debut 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of web gems at third base.

Junior Frankie Wright drew the start for the Seahawks and despite coughing up two runs (one earned) in the first, the Egg Harbor Township, NJ, native settled down thereafter to allow just one run on three hits with five strikeouts. 

Freshman Griffin White pitched two no-hit innings and struck out three Tar Heels in relief. Senior Lukas Torres joined Roche with multiple hits on the day. 

Wagner will draw North Carolina for game two of three on Saturday, February 17, at 1:00 pm.