UNC baseball sweeps Wagner to kick off 2024 season

The UNC baseball program got the 2024 season underway this weekend at Boshamer Stadium, as you couldn't have asked for a better start for the Diamond Heels.

North Carolina took care of business, sweeping Wagner in a three-game series. Here's a breakdown of how it all went down.

Freshman Folger Boaz made his UNC baseball debut on the mound and impressed in his first collegiate start. The left-hander went five innings, allowing just one run while striking out five Seahawk batters.

A six-run sixth inning helped the Diamond Heels pull away for good, as a Vance Honeycutt home run was the big swing of the inning.

Eight different players made their UNC baseball debuts, as the Diamond Heels got plenty of production from the newcomers. Georgia transfer Parks Harber went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and graduate transfer Anthony Donofrio was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Freshmen Gavin Gallaher, who started at second base, and Luke Stevenson recorded the first hits of their careers.

Game two was another strong offensive performance for the Diamond Heels as they strung together 16 runs on 17 hits to capture a season opening series victory.

Three innings were the difference in this one, as North Carolina scored five runs in the second, sixth, and eighth innings.

Casey Cook went 4-6 with a home run and a double to go along with four RBIs, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle. Alberto Osuna and Honeycutt each homered in the win.

Dalton Pence was the winning pitcher in relief, as he threw 3 2/3 shutout innings with five strikeouts. He retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced, including nine in a row.

With the win, North Carolina captured its tenth consecutive season opening series victory. The Tar Heels also scored double digit runs in their first two games of the season for the second time in the span of the last three years.

On Sunday, the UNC baseball program's offense kept going, tallying 20 runs on 15 hits. The Diamond Heels stole 10, yes, 10, bases, tying a school record which was set in 1995 against Maine.

It also marks the first time the Tar Heels have scored 20+ runs in a game since it did so against Duke during the 2021 season.

Overall, North Carolina scored a staggering 46 runs in the three-game series against Wagner, which is their best offensive performance in an opening three-game stretch since 1899. It is the third time since 2000 that the Tar Heels have scored 40 runs in their opening three games.

Scott Forbes and the Diamond Heels have a busy week ahead, as it gets started on Tuesday with a quick one-game meeting with Elon a Boshamer Stadium. The Diamond Heels will face off with East Carolina for a three-game set, which is scheduled to begin on Friday afternoon.