By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — No. 8 North Carolina was already dominating nearly every game before facing first-year Division I program Le Moyne, so more decisive wins were expected.
The Tar Heels didn’t disappoint as third baseman Cooper Nicholson hit a homer and drove in five in their 16–3 seven-inning run-rule victory on a chilly, drizzly Friday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
In pouring on a season-high run total, UNC (9–1–1) already has five run-rule victories this season after last year’s team didn’t notch its fifth until April 12.
UNC coach Scott Forbes attributed the flurry of 10-run rule games to depth, speed and power in the lineup.
“[You look at] how the lineup is structured; where is the power? Cooper’s hitting in the eight hole today,” Forbes said. “He probably has the most power, just raw power, on our team. So, we might have a little bit more power, potentially, top to bottom in this lineup [than last season].”
Forbes liked the way his team handled both the opponent, the 0–7 Dolphins, and the conditions, playing clean, error-free defense and dealing with a pitching staff that didn’t pound the strike zone.
“I thought our guys did a good job of not going outside the zone, not trying to do too much,” Forbes said. “The velocity is not what we’ve been facing. But really, I thought we played well. We were ready.”
That readiness showed up immediately when Nicholson’s three-run double capped a five-run first inning, and Carolina kept traffic on the bases most of the afternoon.
Gavin Gallaher’s two-run homer in the second made it 7–2 after Le Moyne’s Tyler Campbell delivered a two-run, two-out single in the inning. Adam Sullivan added a solo homer in the third, only the Dolphins’ second long ball of the season.
Forbes said the coaching staff anticipated seeing pitchers who might not consistently throw strikes, and prepared the hitters accordingly.
“What happens sometimes is you face somebody maybe with not as much velocity, you start trying to go get the ball, instead of just letting the ball come to you, and it’s still swinging max effort. So I thought we did a really good job of that,” Forbes said.
Nicholson’s approach reflected that message. The junior college transfer, who hit 41 home runs in two seasons at Iowa Central Community College, finished 2 for 3 and launched a 367-foot, two-run homer to left in the seventh-run fifth inning.
“I was just sticking to my approach, looking for that fastball and just put a good swing on it,” Nicholson said of his home run.
He said the lineup’s discipline stood out.
“I think we were very disciplined today, not chasing as much,” Nicholson said. “And that just comes down to our game plan, and our approach is to not expand the strike zone and swing at strikes and put good swings on.”
Nicholson, adjusting from junior college to a Power Five program, said the biggest difference has been the consistency of opposing arms.
“[In] junior college, you’ve got guys that can throw 95, 96, it’s just they only have one pitch,” Nicholson said. “These guys, they’ve got multiple pitches they can throw for strikes. So it’s more just staying disciplined and swinging at strikes.”
Colin Hynek hit a triple high off the left-field wall to drive in a fourth-inning run, and scored on a balk. In the fifth, UNC added RBI doubles by Owen Hull and Hynek before Nicholson’s homer blew the game open.
Even with the lopsided score, Forbes saw teaching moments, particularly for ace Jason DeCaro.
The right-hander improved to 3–0, allowing nine hits and two earned runs with no walks and five strikeouts. He had surrendered only seven hits over 13 shutout innings in his first two starts.
“That happens sometimes,” Forbes said of the hits off DeCaro’s fastball. “I remember being a pitching coach, guys with velocity, teams are just cheating a little bit early. You get a lead like that, you want to keep pounding the zone with fastballs. If the game were closer, he’d probably be throwing sliders.”
Forbes added that DeCaro’s ability to avoid walks limited the damage.
With the game in hand, two Carolina right-handers each pitched one scoreless relief inning, two of four Tar Heels who made their college debuts.
Jake Cackovic, a 6–4 freshman from Holly Springs, struck out two of the three batters he faced in a hitless sixth inning. Riley Leatherman, a 6–2 redshirt freshman, struck out one and walked one in the seventh inning.
Two other freshmen making their first college debuts were infielder AJ Terry and outfielder Jadyn Nunez.
Forbes said getting newcomers on the mound in meaningful situations reflects the team’s depth and chemistry.
“It’s harder not being in the lineup,” he said. “But once you learn to really just focus on getting better, buying into the team concept, pulling for your teammates, and just working hard, then all you can do is be ready for your opportunity. So it’s fun to get them in there.”
Forbes was especially encouraged by Cackovic.
“He was an unbelievable basketball player in Holly Springs, so he hadn’t trained as a pitcher like a lot of guys do now,” Forbes said.” I think his upside is really, really big. He’s super-athletic, even though he’s throwing around 90 [mph] right now. He’s got sink, he’s got slide. I think he’s got a chance to really be something in his career.”
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Notes
— The three-game series continues at 2 p.m. Saturday, with sophomore right-hander Ryan Lynch (0–0, 3.60 ERA) starting for Carolina. Junior left-hander Folger Boaz (1–0, 3.72) starts for UNC in Sunday’s 1 p.m. finale.— DH Hynek went 3–for-3, reached base five times, with three runs, three RBI and three walks.
— This was the first meeting with Le Moyne, a college in Syracuse, N.Y., in its first season at the Division I level.
— Opponents have scored on Le Moyne in 31 of 50 innings this season
— The ERA for Dolphins reliever Luke Connors (1 inning, 5 hits, 7 runs, 3 walks) went from 3.00 to 18.00.
No. 8 UNC 16, Le Moyne 3 (7 innings)
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Times/ scores | Opponent (current rank) | Record/ TV * |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | ||||
| 13–14 | Fri., Sat. | W, 9–4; W, 12–2 (7); W, 4–3 (11) | vs. Indiana | 3–0 |
| 17 | Tuesday | W, 10–0 (7) | vs. Richmond | 4–0 |
| 18 | Wednesday | W, 5–3 | vs. Longwood | 5–0 |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun | W, 10–0 (8); L, 10–3; T, 3–3 | vs. East Carolina | 6–1–1 |
| 24 | Tuesday | W, 9–1 | vs. N.C. A&T | 7–1–1 |
| 25 | Wednesday | W, 13–3 (7) | vs. VCU | 8–1–1 |
| 27 | Friday | W, 16–3 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 9–1–1 |
| 28 | Saturday | 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. Louisville | Friday ACCN |
| 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 | ACCN |
| April | ||||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | 6, 6, 2 | vs. Boston College | |
| 7 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. Charlotte | ACCN |
| 10–12 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, 2, 12:30 | at No. 15 Clemson | Sunday ACCN |
| 14 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. UNCW | |
| 17–19 | Fri-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 | vs. No. 5 Georgia Tech | Sat., Sun. ACCN |
| 21 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. High Point | |
| 23–25 | Thu.-Sat. | 7, 6, 3 | at Duke | Thurs. ACCN |
| 28 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 9 Coastal Carolina | ACCN |
| 29 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Queens | |
| May | ||||
| 3 | Sunday | 2 p.m. (non-conference game) | vs. Duke | ACCN |
| 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. 14 N.C. State | Thurs. ACCN |
| 19–24 | Tues.-Sun. | ACC tournament | Charlotte | ACCN (final ESPN2) |
| 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. |
- Games not on TV stream on ACC Network Extra unless otherwise note.
Photos courtesy of UNC Athletics
