By R.L. Bynum
After earning seven run-rule wins in its first 14 games, No. 8 North Carolina was on the other end Friday in its ACC opener.
Virginia rolled to a 13–3 seven-inning victory Friday over the Tar Heels at Boshamer Stadium.
UNC (12–2–1, 0–1 ACC) has given up double-digit runs in both of its losses, falling 10–3 to East Carolina in Durham on Feb. 21. The Tar Heels were held to five hits Saturday after collecting only four in that loss to the Pirates.
The Cavaliers (12–2, 1–0) got to UNC starter Jason DeCaro (loser, 3–1) early. The junior right-hander struggled with his control, giving up six hits, five runs (two earned) and three walks in three innings and 72 pitches.
Virginia’s starter, left-hander Henry Zakowski (winner, 2–0; 5⅓ innings, 5 runs, 3 runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts) didn’t give up a hit until two were out in the fourth inning, an RBI single from Colin Hynek that plated the Tar Heels’ first run.
The Cavaliers scored in the first inning on Harrison Didawick’s bases-loaded one-out sacrifice fly after DeCaro hit a batter, walked another and gave up a single. The Cavaliers loaded the bases again in the third, scoring runs on third baseman Cooper Nicholson’s error, a groundout and Eric Becker’s two-run single to center field.
The Cavaliers made it 8–0 with three runs off reliever Cameron Padgett in the fourth inning on Noah Murray’s RBI single and Zach Jackson’s two-run homer, all with two outs. UNC reliever Kyle Percival gave up three runs in 1+ innings, giving up a two-run homer to right-center to Didawick in the sixth inning.
The first four Tar Heels reached based in the sixth, with Macon Winslow and Owen Hull hitting RBI singles to plate two runs. Virginia quickly got those back in with a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning by Noah Murray off UNC freshman right-hander reliever Talan Holiday.
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Notes
—Sophomore right-hander Ryan Lynch (1–0, 2.81 ERA) starts in Game 1 of Saturday’s series-ending doubleheader at 1 p.m., opposing Virginia sophomore left-hander Max Stammel (0–0, 4.22 ERA). In the second game, UNC junior left-hander Folger Boaz (2–0, 3.07 ERA) faces Virginia freshman right-hander John Paone (1–0, 2.31 ERA).
—Virginia has won three of the last four series with UNC, but the Tar Heels are 2–0 against the Cavaliers in the postseason during that span.
—Carolina leads the all-time series 193–123–4, including 118–72–3 in Chapel Hill.
Virginia 13, No. 8 UNC 3
| 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 |
| 27–28 | Fri., Sat. | W, 16–3 (7); W, 12–2 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 10–1–1 |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | W, 21–1 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 11–1–1 |
| 3 | Tuesday | W, 5–1 | vs. Elon | 12–1–1 |
| 6–7 | Fri., Sat | L, 13–3 (7); L, 9–2; W, 8–7 (12) | vs. No. 23 Virginia | 13–3–1, 1–2 ACC |
| 10 | Tuesday | W, 13–3 (7) | vs. Bucknell | 14–3–1 |
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 8–1; W, 6–2; W, 10–2 | at California | 17–3–1, 4–2 |
| 18 | Wednesday | W, 8–2 | vs. UNCG | 18–3–1 |
| 20–22 | Fri.–Sun. | W, 11–1 (8); L, 2–0; W, 7–6 | vs. Louisville | 20–4–1, 6–3 |
| 24 | Tuesday | W, 9–1 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte | 21–4–1 |
| 28, 29 | Sat., Sun | W, 6–5; W, 13–7; W, 15–10 | at Notre Dame | 24–4–1, 9–3 |
| 31 | Tuesday | W, 5–4 (14) | vs. Campbell | 25–4–1 |
| April | ||||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | L, 6–1; W, 5–2; W, 8–7 | vs. No. 20 Boston College | 27–5–1, 11–4 |
| 7 | Tuesday | W, 8–4 | vs. Charlotte | 28–5–1 |
| 10–12 | Fri.–Sun. | L, 9–5; W, 6–4 (14); W, 12–5 | at Clemson | 30–6–1, 13–5 |
| 14 | Tuesday | W, 14–5 | vs. UNCW | 31–6–1 |
| 17–19 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 5–2; W, 14–4 (8); L, 5–2 | vs. No. 3 Georgia Tech | 33–7–1, 15–6 |
| 21 | Tuesday | W, 9–2 | vs. High Point | 34–7–1 |
| 23–25 | Thur.–Sat. | W, 3–1; L, 3–1; W, 22–5 (7) | at Duke | 36–8–1, 17–7 |
| 28 | Tuesday | L, 12–2 | vs. No. 9 Coastal Carolina | 36–9–1 |
| 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 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.
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
