For the first time since the 2022 season, the UNC baseball program has won its annual traveling series against the Pirates.
Oh yeah, and they swept the series too!
While the series was delayed a day due to weather, it didn't affect the Diamond Heels one bit. The Tar Heels still found a way to secure an impressive three-game sweep, building even more momentum in the early stages of the 2025 season.
So, how did it all happen? Let's break down each game.
Game 1
Runs were tough to come by in this one as North Carolina's pitching staff combined for a shutout on Saturday afternoon.
Jason DeCaro took the ball for the Diamond Heels for his second start of the season, as he put together another shutout performance. The sophomore right-hander went 5.1 innings, allowing just four hits while striking out four. His biggest moment of his outing came when he was able to pitch his way out of a bases loaded jam.
From there, Scott Forbes turned to Ryan Lynch, Matthew Matthijs and Walker McDuffie to close the door.
McDuffie, a true freshman, was lights out in his second career collegiate outing, picking up the save for his 2.1 innings of work. He retired all seven batters he faced, three of which came from the strikeout variety, as he was able to cap off a tremendous outing for the Diamond Heels pitching staff.
Offensively, North Carolina found a way to get two runs on the board in the fifth inning. An RBI ground out off the bat of Kane Kepley followed by a Tyson Bass RBI single put the game out of reach.
Game 2
Both offenses were much more active in the second game of the series, this one at Boshamer Stadium, as North Carolina wasted no time getting on the board.
Luke Stevenson crushed a home run to right field, the first homer of the season for the Diamond Heels, providing a 3-0 cushion before the first inning concluded.
East Carolina would battle back, scoring runs in three consecutive innings to take a 5-3 lead, but North Carolina wasn't done offensively.
A Hunter Stokley RBI single followed by a Jackson Van De Brake fielder's choice, RBI tied the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning. East Carolina would temporarily regain the lead in the top half of the sixth, but that lead wouldn't last long.
Tyson Bass drove in Alex Madera with an RBI double, while Stokley continued his hot stretch by bringing home Bass with an RBI single to left field. The Diamond Heels first baseman wasn't done producing at the plate, as another RBI single got the Tar Heels going en route to a four-run eighth inning.
Folger Boaz came in relief to pick up the victory. The left-hander tosses 3.1 innings, allowing just two hits. He was incredibly efficient, needing just 41 pitches to retire 11 of the 12 batters he faced.
Game 3
Get used to hearing the names Hunter Stokley and Luke Stevenson a lot this season.
Stokley put together a three hit performance while Stevenson reached base four times (three via walk) as the duo led the Diamond Heels offense to six runs in the final game of this three-game set.
After East Carolina got on the board in the bottom half of the first inning, Stokley wasted no time tying the game up once again. He hit an opposite field homer to left field, starting up what would be a three run inning for the Tar Heels.
North Carolina would add two more runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 5-2, and an RBI single off the bat of Stevenson provided an extra insurance run.
Fortunately, those insurance runs weren't needed.
Aidan Haugh got the start for the Diamond Heels and he was electric, striking out 11 Pirates hitters over five strong innings of work. His 10 punchouts are the most by a Tar Heel since Max Carlson struck out 11 Miami Hurricanes back on March 27, 2022.
That's some pretty good company for Haugh to join!
The bullpen once again was electric, as Camron Seagraves and Matthew Matthijs combined for four innings of shutout ball to secure the series sweep.
What's Next
The UNC baseball program has little time to rest as they'll host VCU in a non-conference contest on Tuesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. First-pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM EST.