Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Baseball picks up Top 25 win over East Carolina

By Jordan Falls

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 01: Connor Bovair #27 of the North Carolina Tar Heels throws a pitch during the first inning against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Boshamer Stadium on April 01, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 01: Connor Bovair #27 of the North Carolina Tar Heels throws a pitch during the first inning against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Boshamer Stadium on April 01, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The UNC baseball program beat no. 14 East Carolina on Wednesday evening and significantly helped out their NCAA Tournament resume.

In the final game of a three-game series between the UNC baseball program and the East Carolina Pirates, a series that began during the early portion of the season and was delayed due to inclement weather, the Tar Heels picked up a much-needed win to help their NCAA Tournament chances.

Heading into Wednesday’s game with the Pirates, the Tar Heels came in as a no. 3 seed in the Conway Regional with Coastal Carolina being the no. 9 overall seed and host school according to D1Baseball. Last week before the latest update, Carolina was projected to be one of the first five teams out of the field. However, it appeared going into the game vs the Pirates, that UNC’s series win in Blacksburg last week helped push them back into the field of 64.

The one weak spot on the Tar Heels’ resume has been a lack of quality wins with plenty of opportunities. UNC had an opportunity on Tuesday at home versus no. 13 Campbell, but unfortunately lost in the ninth inning 6-5.

It was a pitchers’ duel on Wednesday in Greenville between the Diamond Heels and the Pirates. Sophomore Connor Bovair got the start for the Tar Heels and went four innings, allowing only one run on three hits. Vance Honeycutt got UNC on the board in the fourth inning with a solo home run.

Dalton Pence, who made his first career start in game two versus Virginia Tech last weekend, came in for relief of Bovair. He went two innings gave up just one hit and was credited for the win after Hunter Stokely reached on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded that scored Jackson Van De Brake giving the Tar Heels a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning.

After using six pitchers in last night’s loss to the Camels, Scott Forbes only used three arms on Wednesday. Former starter Max Carlson moved to the bullpen two weekends ago and came in for the final three innings against ECU in relief. Carlson threw three perfect innings, allowing no hits and striking out two batters, and recorded the save to propel the Diamond Heels to a 2-1 victory.

As final exams approach, the Tar Heels have the upcoming weekend off and will return to the diamond next Tuesday vs Gardner-Webb at The Bosh at 6 PM. That game can be found on ACC Network Extra.

They will finish off their home season next weekend vs rival NC State before going on the road for the season’s final week. We will continue to monitor potential regional scenarios and NCAA Tournament projections over the course of the next month.

Next. UNC Baseball: Gallen off to great start for Diamondbacks. dark

Follow us @KeepingItHeel on Twitter and like our fan page on Facebook for continued coverage of UNC baseball news, updates, and recruiting.

Home/UNC Baseball