First-year Perry Hargett makes 'unbelievable' UNC baseball debut against N.C. A&T

Leading up to Wednesday's game, head coach Scott Forbes had been repeating the same thing to his staff: 

"I feel like I need to get Perry [Hargett] in there," Forbes said. "He's an everyday player at this level."

So, after recent struggles from graduate designated hitter Sam Angelo leaving him with a .136 batting average across eight games, Forbes decided to put first-year Perry Hargett in Angelo's place in the bottom of the fourth. 

“I try to expect [to play] every day,” Hargett said. 

 He did not disappoint in his college debut. 

The Peachland, N.C. native rounded out the game going 3-for-4 with two runs, four RBIs and one home run to propel the Diamond Heels to a 13-4 victory over N.C. A&T at Boshamer Stadium on Wednesday evening. The win marks their largest lead of the season.

And after being named the 2024 Max Preps Baseball Player of the Year in North Carolina and to the NCISAA 4A All-State team, Hargett's day was inevitable. 

“He's a great teammate," Forbes said. "He is a leader. He’s going to be a leader in our program. He's a dynamic player."  

While the Tar Heels scored first on Wednesday, Aggies' Jason Campo hit a three- run bomb to take a 4-2 lead over the Diamond Heels in the third. North Carolina's bats fell silent. UNC needed a momentum change. 

“I just, deep down, felt like that was a good opportunity to get him in there,” Forbes said. "And it worked out."

On a 2-0 count, Hargett laced a line drive single to left field. Eventually, he made it home to put UNC within one run. 

During his next at bat in the fifth frame, Hargett sent a ball right over the Aggie shortstop. Senior first baseman Hunter Stokely scored to tie up the game 4-4 off the hit. 

North Carolina never looked back from there. 

With one out and runners on first and second, Hargett stepped up to the plate for his last at bat. Facing two strikes, the first-year rocketed the ball over the left field wall. He described the three run homer as surreal. 

He shook his head as he ran the bases. He galloped to the dug out and his teammates greeted and celebrated with him. 

“His performance was pretty unbelievable,” sophomore third baseman Gavin Gallaher said. “To do that in your first appearance, it's pretty cool.” 

Since 2011, Hargett and former Tar Heel Vance Honeycutt are the only two players to have hit a home run in their college debuts at UNC. After Honeycutt's departure last year, Hargett is now donning No. 7, the former player's number. 

And it's clear that Hargett's best games are likely ahead of him. 

“It still doesn't quite feel real yet," Hargett said. "But it was exciting in the moment." 

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