By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — No. 17 North Carolina took morning batting practice on Friday, but it all counted.
In a game that started at 11 a.m. to get ahead of the rain, the Tar Heels banged out 10 hits in an 11-run first inning when 16 UNC players batted. The rout quickly was on as Carolina rolled to a 12–2 victory Friday over Princeton in the opener of a three-game series.
“I thought we were just OK for the entirety of the 27 outs offensively,” UNC coach Scott Forbes said. “We usually aren’t going to give away an at-bat. We’ll learn from that, challenge the guys about that.”
That was plenty to back the pitching of freshman ace Folger Boaz (2–0, 2.16 ERA), who struck out a season-high nine batters, giving up three hits, two walks and two runs in seven innings and 106 pitches for Carolina (8–2).
UNC leadoff man Alex Madera, a slick-fielding shortstop, had four hits by the fourth inning, finishing 4 of 5 with three doubles and two RBI.
Princeton (1–3) scored in the first without a hit off Boaz. Princeton leadoff man Matt Scannell got hit by a pitch and later stole home.
“He didn’t have his stuff today; that shows how good he can be,” Forbes said. “He still had enough command to battle through it and give us seven complete.”
Carolina’s bottom of the first lasted so long, that Boaz went out to the bullpen to warm up before he came out for the second inning.
“Early on, first inning, had some command issues,” Boaz said. “Me sitting for that long, you sit on the bench, and you can think about it. But, as Coach Forbes says, it’s all about the next inning, next batter, next pitch. Going back to the pen really helped me dial back in, kind of find a rhythm.”
Boaz retired the last seven batters he faced.
“For the most part, I’m gaining a lot of confidence with different pitches and kind of finding the zone more,” Boaz said. “I think my slider was probably the best thing today. I was really struggling with my fastball command. Just getting ahead, getting ahead early and landing that first pitch was the biggest thing.”
Madera has settled in and flourished at the leadoff spot after Vance Honeycutt led off for the first few games.
“I feel like I’m seeing more pitches a little bit better,” Madera said. “Obviously, I’m trying to get my swing off on whatever I see. I get my swing off, then I feel like I’m fine anywhere in the lineup.”
Honeycutt highlighted that big first inning with a three-run homer to center field that bounced off the batter’s eye and would have traveled an estimated 423 feet. Three UNC players had two hits in the inning, including first baseman Alberto Osuna, who had a two-run double and an RBI single.
“The crazy part is obviously we got some help because they didn’t make some plays, but then we really stung some balls,” Forbes said of the first inning. “There’s one thing our offense has done a pretty good job of is not letting teams off the hook.”
Princeton starting pitcher Sean Episcope got only one out, giving up eight hits, 11 runs (eight earned) and throwing 56 pitches.
Casey Cook, who was 3 for 4 with two RBI, hit a sacrifice fly and tacked on a run in the second inning, and Princeton got an RBI single in the fourth.
Kyle Percival pitched the final two innings with one hit and one strikeout.
NOTES — Left-hander Shea Sprague (0–1, 6.75 ERA), a junior transfer from Elon, starts the second game of the series at noon for UNC. Freshman right-hander Jason DeCaro (1–0, 4.82) starts the series finale at noon Sunday. … Two-time UNC All-American Scott Bradley is Princeton’s head coach. … Senior first baseman Parks Harber (concussion protocol) missed his third consecutive game but is expected back on Saturday. … UNC first baseman Jackson Van De Brake ended an 0-for-22 slump with a sixth-inning single. … Carolina leads the all-time series with Princeton 30–9 and has won the last 16 meetings.
No. 17 UNC 12, Princeton 2
UNC scores
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Times | Opponent (current rank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | |||
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sat. | 4, noon, 1 | vs. Indiana |
| 17 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Richmond |
| 18 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Longwood |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun. | 4 (Greenville), 2 (DBAP), 2 (CH) | vs. East Carolina |
| 24 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. N.C. A&T |
| 25 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. VCU |
| 27–28 | Fri., Sat. | 4 p.m., 2 p.m. | vs. Le Moyne |
| March | |||
| 1 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Le Moyne |
| 3 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Elon |
| 6–8 | Fri.-Sun. | 4, 2, 1 | vs. Virginia |
| 10 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Bucknell |
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sun. | 9, 5, 4 | at California |
| 18 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. UNCG |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun. | 8, 2, 1 | vs. No. 8 Louisville |
| 24 | Tuesday | 6:30 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte |
| 27–29 | Fri.-Sun. | 6:30, 3, 1 | at Notre Dame |
| 31 | Tuesday | 8 p.m. | vs. Campbell |
| April | |||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | 6, 6, 2 | vs. Boston College |
| 7 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. Charlotte |
| 10–12 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, 2, 12:30 | at No. 19 Clemson |
| 14 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. UNCW |
| 17–19 | Fri-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 | vs. No. 5 Georgia Tech |
| 21 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. High Point |
| 23–25 | Fri.-Sun. | 7, 6, 3 | at Duke |
| 28 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 6 Coastal Carolina |
| 29 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Queens |
| May | |||
| 3 | Sunday | 2 p.m. (non-conference game) | vs. Duke |
| 6 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Winthrop |
| 8–10 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 | vs. Pittsburgh |
| 12 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | at UNCW |
| 14–16 | Thurs.-Sat. | 7, 6, 1 | at No. 17 N.C. State |
| 19–24 | Tues.-Sun. | ACC tournament | Charlotte |
| 29–31 | Fri.-Sun. | NCAA Regionals | Campus sites |
| June | |||
| 5–7 | Fri.-Sun. | NCAA Super Regionals | Campus sites |
| 12–22 | Fri.-Mon | College World Series | Omaha, Neb. |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
tarheeltribune.com 