By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — The first game after the final exam break can get crazy, and No. 11 North Carolina’s clash with Campbell graded high on the craziness scale on a night that Vance Honeycutt blasted to the edge of more history.
The game featured 15 pitchers, 33 hits, 99 plate appearances, 389 pitches, three lead changes and some defensive adventures. The Tar Heels pulled away for a 16–10 victory Tuesday at Boshamer Stadium for the Camels’ seventh consecutive defeat.
“What I saw tonight that impressed me the most was our guys just kept playing,” said UNC coach Scott Forbes of his team’s resiliency after blowing a 6–1 lead. “Our guys kept their composure, just kept playing. We made some big pitches.”
It came one season after Carolina beat Gardner-Webb 5–4 in the first game after the break, when an incident emptied the dugouts and led to dozens of Tar Heels getting suspended.
Fortunately, that wasn’t the sort of craziness this time. It did have oddness in that starting first baseman Parks Harber had to leave early in the game since he was throwing up because of a virus.
Honeycutt swatted a 380-foot shot over the right-center field fence in the six-run sixth inning for his 56th home run. It was the third straight game with a homer for the junior center fielder. In 160 career games, he’s one away from tying the program record that Devy Bell set in 205 games (see list below).
Lawson Harrill set the Campbell school record with his 51st career homer run and the Camels had a seaosn-high 19 hits..
There were plenty of offensive accolades to go aroundfor UNC, with freshman catcher Luke Stevenson (top photo) collecting a season-high four hits and third baseman Jackson Van De Brake going 3 for 4 with two steals. Right fielder Anthony Donofrio (2 for 4) and shortstop Colby Wilkeson each drove in three runs.
UNC (36–11), which beat Campbell 7–3 on March 3, matched its win total of last season in the second-longest game of the season at 3 hours, 59 minutes.
Eight Tar Heels took the mound, and many had issues. But the most impressive was senior right-hander Ben Peterson (winner, 2–1), who finished his 2⅓-inning outing with a strikeout to strand a runner in the seventh inning, and hit 98 mph on his fastball. He is emerging as another big bullpen arm for the Tar Heels.
“I thought the biggest pitch of the game was the curveball Ben Peterson threw with a three-two count,” Forbes said of a sixth-inning strikeout. “He had great stuff, and they’re a good hitting team.”
(Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics by Ainsley Fauth)
Stevenson agreed that Peterson, who gave up two hits, walked two and struck out two in 41 pitches, was the most impressive on the mound.
“He was electric his last outing, and then he was really good today. That’s good to see,” Stevenson said. “He works hard, and he deserves it.”
Right-hander Aidan Haugh, ticketed as UNC’s Sunday starter this weekend against Louisville, pitched the first two innings, giving up four hits and one unearned run while striking out four.
Most of the other UNC pitchers had trouble finding a groove, partly because of the layoff and partly because Campbell has a talented offense. The Camels hit three home runs to give them 106 on the season.
“When you win a game like that, it can help you big time because you [know you have] got to pitch better,” said Forbes, who added that it’s a good time to review those outings with the pitchers.
Carolina built a 6–0 lead with Alberto Osuna’s two-out, first-inning RBI single and four second-inning runs on left fielder Casey Cook’s two-run single and Donofrio’s two-run double.
The Camels scored two in the third on Dalen Thompson’s sacrifice fly off reliever Matthew Matthijs (⅔ of an inning, two hits, two runs, one walk) and second baseman Chandler Riley’s two-out RBI single off Connor Bovair.
Wilkerson ripped a two-out RBI double down the right-field line in the third inning. But Campbell quickly got a run back on center fielder Peyton Bonds’ leadoff homer just inside the left-field foul pole in the fourth inning off Bovair (⅓ of an inning, two hits, one run, 1 walk).
Campbell took an 8–7 lead when it got five consecutive two-out hits after Matt Poston (1⅔ innings, five hits, two runs) got his career-high fifth strikeout in the fifth inning.
The Camels ended Poston’s night with the first four hits, including catcher Jackson Thompson’s solo home run to right-center and right fielder Lawson Harrill’s RBI single. Kyle Percival came on in relief and gave up an RBI single to DH Dylan Koontz, the only batter he faced. Peterson elicited an inning-ending lineout with two runners on.
UNC had a 15–9 lead through six innings after two fifth-inning runs — on Van De Brake’s RBI single and Wilkerson’s sacrifice fly — and a six-run sixth inning.
The Tar Heels got RBI hits from Donofrio, Stevenson and Van De Brake before Honeycutt belted his two-run home run.
UNC reliever Cameron Padgett pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Campbell (27–20) got its 10th run on Harrill’s solo home run in the ninth inning off Dalton Pence, who got three strikeouts in the inning.
NOTES — Carolina plays its first ACC game in nine days when it hosts Louisville at 6 p.m. Friday in the opener of a three-game series, which includes noon games Saturday and Sunday. The first two games stream on ESPN3, with the finale airing on ACC Network. … The Cardinals took a four-game win streak into Tuesday night’s game at Vanderbilt. … Freshman third baseman Gavin Gallaher missed the game with back spasms, but Forbes is hopeful that he can play this weekend. … Van De Brake, who started at third base for the first time since Feb. 24, made a nice play to his left in the third inning to likely save a run. … UNC is 18–4 this season against nonconference opponents, with a mid-week record of 12–2. … Carolina leads the all-time series with Campbell 41–11. … The longest Carolina game of the season was the 10–5 win over N.C. A&T on March 26, which took 4 hours and five minutes.
No. 11 UNC 16, Campbell 10
UNC career home run leaders
| Player | Seasons | Games | Homers |
|---|---|---|---|
| X — Vance Honeycutt | 2022–present | 166 | 59 |
| Devy Bell | 1984–87 | 205 | 57 |
| Chris Cox | 1990–93 | 192 | 49 |
| Mac Horvath | 2021–23 | 160 | 47 |
| X — Alberto Osuna | 2022–present | 169 | 44 |
| Chad Flack | 2005–08 | 267 | 42 |
| Sean Farrell | 2000–03 | 240 | 40 |
| Jarrett Shearin | 1996–99 | 241 | 40 |
| Cookie Massey | 1993–94 | 108 | 40 |
ACC standings
| Coastal Division | League | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| XY — No. 7 North Carolina | 22–8 | 41–12 |
| No. 18 Virginia | 18–12 | 40–14 |
| No. 11 Duke | 16–14 | 35–18 |
| Georgia Tech | 15–15 | 31–21 |
| Virginia Tech | 14–16 | 32–20 |
| Miami | 11–19 | 25–29 |
| Pittsburgh | 10–20 | 26–27 |
| Atlantic Division | League | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| X — No. 4 Clemson | 20–10 | 40–13 |
| No. 17 N.C. State | 18–11 | 32–19 |
| No. 10 Florida State | 17–12 | 39–14 |
| Louisville | 16–14 | 32–22 |
| No. 8 Wake Forest | 15–15 | 36–19 |
| Notre Dame | 9–21 | 27–25 |
| Boston College | 8–22 | 22–31 |
Thursday’s results
No. 11 Duke 5, No. 7 North Carolina 3
Louisville 5-5, Notre Dame 3-1
No. 18 Virginia 7, Virginia Tech 3
No. 4 Clemson 12, Boston College 10
No. 10 Florida State 8, Georgia Tech 3
Miami 5, Pittsburgh 3
No. 17 N.C. State 14, No. 8 Wake Forest 3
Friday’s results
No. 7 North Carolina 6, No. 11 Duke 4
No. 18 Virginia 13, Virginia Tech 3, 7 innings (10-run rule)
No. 4 Clemson 11, Boston College 6
No. 10 Florida State 11, Georgia Tech 3
Louisville 14, Notre Dame 6
No. 17 N.C. State 2, No. 8 Wake Forest 1
Pittsburgh 5, Miami 3
Saturday’s results
No. 7 North Carolina 14, No. 11 Duke 6
No. 4 Clemson 10, Boston College 0, 8 innings (10-run rule)
Pittsburgh 10, Miami 7
No. 17 N.C. State 9, No. 8 Wake Forest 6
Georgia Tech 11, No. 10 Florida State 10
No. 18 Virginia 10, Virginia Tech 9, 13 innings
END OF REGULAR SEASON
| Date | Day/ month | Time/ score | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | ||||
| 16 | Friday | W, 10–3 | vs. Wagner | 1–0 |
| 17 | Saturday | W, 16–5 | vs. Wagner | 2–0 |
| 18 | Sunday | W, 20–6 | vs. Wagner | 3–0 |
| 20 | Tuesday | W, 8–7 | vs. Elon | 4–0 |
| 23 | Friday | W, 2–1 | vs. No. 13 East Carolina | 5–0 |
| 24 | Saturday | L, 7–4 | vs. No. 13 East Carolina in Fayetteville | 5–1 |
| 25 | Sunday | L, 10–9 | at No. 13 East Carolina | 5–2 |
| 27 | Tuesday | W, 8–2 | vs. VCU | 6–2 |
| 28 | Wednesday | W, 12–3 | vs. Longwood | 7–2 |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Friday | W, 12–2 | vs. Princeton | 8–2 |
| 2 | Saturday | W, 11–2 | vs. Princeton | 9–2 |
| 3 | Sunday | W, 13–6 | vs. Princeton | 10–2 |
| 5 | Tuesday | W, 7–3 | at Campbell | 11–2 |
| 8 | Friday | W, 2–1 | vs. Pittsburgh | 12–2, 1–0 ACC |
| 9 | Saturday | W, 7–3 | vs. Pittsburgh | 13–2, 2–0 ACC |
| 10 | Sunday | W, 6–5, 10 innings | vs. Pittsburgh | 14–2, 3–0 ACC |
| 12 | Tuesday | W, 13–7 | vs. Rutgers | 15–2 |
| 13 | Wednesday | W, 9–8 | vs. Rutgers | 16–2 |
| 15 | Friday | L, 14–1 | at Miami | 16–3, 3–1 ACC |
| 16 | Saturday | L, 2–1 | at Miami | 16–4, 3–2 ACC |
| 17 | Sunday | W, 18–6, 7 innings (10-run rule) | at Miami | 17–4, 4–2 ACC |
| 19 | Tuesday | W, 11–0, 7 innings (10-run rule) | vs. UNCW | 18–4 |
| 22 | Friday | W, 5–4 | vs. Georgia Tech | 19–4, 5–2 ACC |
| 23 | Saturday | W, 11–5 | vs. Georgia Tech | 20–4, 6–2 ACC |
| 24 | Sunday | W, 9–2 | vs. Georgia Tech | 21–4, 7–2 ACC |
| 26 | Tuesday | W, 10–8 | vs. N.C. A&T | 22–4 |
| 29 | Friday | W, 6–5 | at No. 8 Wake Forest | 23–4, 8–2 ACC |
| 30 | Saturday | W, 10–6 | at No. 8 Wake Forest | 24–4, 9–2 ACC |
| 31 | Sunday | W, 14–10 | at No. 8 Wake Forest | 25–4, 10–2 ACC |
| April | ||||
| 4 | Thursday | L, 14–11 | at No. 18 Virginia | 25–5, 10–3 ACC |
| 5 | Friday | L, 7–2 | at No. 18 Virginia | 25–6, 10–4 ACC |
| 6 | Saturday | W, 12–7 | at No. 18 Virginia | 26–6, 11–4 ACC |
| 9 | Tuesday | L, 2–1 | vs. No. 24 South Carolina in Charlotte | 26–7 |
| 12 | Friday | W, 13–0, 6½ innings (10-run rule) | vs. Notre Dame | 27–7, 12–4 ACC |
| 13 | Saturday | W, 7–2 | vs. Notre Dame | 28–7, 13–4 ACC |
| 14 | Sunday | W, 10–3 | vs. Notre Dame | 29–7, 14–4 ACC |
| 16 | Tuesday | L, 5–4 | vs. Coastal Carolina | 29–8 |
| 18 | Thursday | L, 9–8 | at No. 17 N.C. State | 29–9, 14–5 ACC |
| 19 | Friday | L, 5–4 | at No. 17 N.C. State | 29–10, 14–6 ACC |
| 20 | Saturday | W, 14–3 | at No. 17 N.C. State | 30–10, 15–6 ACC |
| 23 | Tuesday | W, 5–2 | vs. Gardner-Webb | 31–10 |
| 26 | Friday | W, 8–1 | vs. Virginia Tech | 32–10, 16–6 ACC |
| 27 | Saturday | W, 6–3 | vs. Virginia Tech | 33–10, 17–6 ACC |
| 28 | Sunday | L, 4–3 | vs. Virginia Tech | 33–11, 17–7 ACC |
| 30 | Tuesday | W, 13–1, 6½ innings (10-run rule) | vs. Charlotte | 34–11 |
| May | ||||
| 1 | Wednesday | W, 19–2, 6½ innings (10-run rule) | vs. William & Mary | 35–11 |
| 7 | Tuesday | W, 16–10 | vs. Campbell | 36–11 |
| 10 | Friday | W, 13–4 8 innings (10-run rule) | vs. Louisville | 37–11, 18–7 ACC |
| 11 | Saturday | W, 6–4 | vs. Louisville | 38–11, 19–7 ACC |
| 12 | Sunday | W, 16–7 | vs. Louisville | 39–11, 20–7 ACC |
| 16 | Thursday | L, 5–3 | at No. 11 Duke | 39–12, 20–8 ACC |
| 17 | Friday | W, 6–4 | at No. 11 Duke | 40–12, 21–8 ACC |
| 18 | Saturday | W, 14–6 | at No. 11 Duke | 41–12, 22–8 ACC |
| ACC tournament in Charlotte | ||||
| 23 | Thursday | 3 p.m. | Pittsburgh | ACCN |
| 24 | Friday | 7 p.m. | No. 8 Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 25 | Saturday | 1 p.m. | Semifinals (if UNC advances) | ACCN |
| 26 | Sunday | Noon | Final (If UNC advances) | ESPN2 |
| 31 | Friday | TBA | NCAA Regional | TBA |
| June | ||||
| 1–3 | Saturday- Monday | TBA | NCAA Regional | TBA |
| 7–10 | Friday- Monday | TBA | NCAA Super Regional | TBA |
| 14–24 | Friday- Monday | TBA | College World Series in Omaha, Neb. | TBA |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics by Ainsley Fauth
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