Pitchers fan 18 as Heels’ bullpen dominant, but UNC can’t rally against unbeaten Virginia

CHAPEL HILL — In Carolina’s first three losses this season, the bullpen wasted good starts. The script flipped for the No. 14 Tar Heels, with the relievers pitching well after a rough night from their starter. Leaving 11 runners on base snuffed UNC’s chances to rally as No. 17 Virginia became the only remaining unbeaten team in the country with a 7–3 victory Friday in the ACC opener for both teams to snap the Heels’ seven-game win streak. Alabama and N.C. State were also unbeaten before losing Friday.

Frick blasts two home runs, drives in six as UNC routs Penn State for 7th straight win

The hits and the power keep coming for No. 14 North Carolina. Against a good Penn State team, the Tar Heels took batting practice Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium, pounding out 14 hits to blow out the Nittany Lions 15–5 for their seventh consecutive victory.

Lights-out game for Honeycutt, UNC as Heels win shortened game for sixth straight

CHAPEL HILL — It was a lights-out performance from leadoff man Vance Honeycutt and No. 14 North Carolina on Tuesday. An 8–4 lead over Western Carolina after five innings was enough for the Tar Heels (10–3) to claim a shortened victory after the Boshamer Stadium lights wouldn’t come on.

Van De Brake hits 2 HRs, as top of UNC order leads rout, Heels finish weekend sweep

CHAPEL HILL — The top of Carolina’s order is having a blast, but none more than junior transfer Jackson Van De Brake. If you wondered whether his early-season home-run stroke might be a fluke after he hit one home run in two seasons at Tacoma Community College, he delivered a powerful message Sunday.

Bovair impressive in his third start of season as No. 13 UNC wins fourth in row

CHAPEL HILL — Junior right-hander Connor Bovair fits in quite nicely as No. 12 Carolina’s No. 2 starter after his first two college seasons didn’t always go smoothly. He followed two solid outings to start the season with an impressive showing Saturday to get his first win of the season in the Tar Heels’ 7–5 win Saturday over Stony Brook before a sun-splashed crowd at Boshamer Stadium.

Van De Brake brings solid defense to UNC, finds power since arrival, hits 2 HRs as Heels win slugfest

CHAPEL HILL — Second baseman Jackson Van De Brake brought outstanding defense to Carolina but didn’t seem to find his power stroke until he got to Chapel Hill. The junior transfer hit one home run in two seasons at Tacoma Community College but already has four this season. He blasted a pair of homers and drove in five runs as No. 13 UNC (6–3) outslugged VCU 14–10 Wednesday to complete a two-game series sweep.

Frick hits two of UNC’s five homers as Heels rebound with rout of VCU

CHAPEL HILL — UNC coach Scott Forbes said last week after his Tar Heels only hit five home runs in their season-opening five-game home stand that the power would come. It hasn’t taken long for No. 13 Carolina to prove him — as Roy Williams might say — frickin’ right.

UNC bullpen wastes masterful Carlson outing at No. 11 ECU; No. 12 Heels’ rally falls short

There was outstanding starting pitching, drama at the end, and an atmosphere worthy of the postseason before a record crowd to see two in-state, highly ranked teams battle. No. 11 East Carolina (4–1) broke loose for six eighth-inning runs after seven shutout innings from UNC starter Max Carlson and held on for a 6–5 victory Friday over the No. 12 Tar Heels in front of 6,003 fans at Clark-LeClair Stadium in Greenville.

Horvath swats 2 HRs, streaking Heels roll, get more good pitching from newcomer

CHAPEL HILL — No. 12 North Carolina continued a productive early pattern of impressive pitching from newcomers and mixed in a power surge. Junior transfer right-hander Jake Knapp delivered the latest outstanding pitching debut, yielding two hits and striking out four in 5⅔ shutout innings in UNC’s fourth consecutive victory.

Young UNC pitchers continue to impress as No. 12 Heels win blowout

CHAPEL HILL — Carolina’s young pitchers continue to be impressive in the first few games of the season, and the offense keeps piling up the runs. Freshman left-hander Kyle Percival threw together the Tar Heels’ best start of the young season as No. 12 UNC blew out Radford 14–2 Tuesday at Boshamer Stadium on a beautiful spring-like day.

Busy week for UNC baseball includes weekend series with No. 11 ECU

It’s a big week for Carolina baseball with five games in six days, including a three-game weekend series against No. 11 East Carolina. The No. 12 Tar Heels (2–1) won two of three games in the opening series against Seton Hall.

Freshman Padgett impressive in relief as No. 12 UNC rebounds with another big offensive game

CHAPEL HILL — The offense kept coming for No. 12 North Carolina, and freshman right-hander Cameron Padgett gave the Tar Heels the pitching performance they were missing in their opening-game loss. Padgett threw 4⅓ shutout innings in relief, giving up only two hits with three strikeouts, as UNC (1–1) rebounded with an impressive 11–2 win Saturday over Seton Hall at Boshamer Stadium to even the season-opening series.

Seton Hall stuns No. 12 UNC in opener on tough day for deep, unproven pitching staff

CHAPEL HILL — No. 12 Carolina has its deepest pitching in several years but a huge offensive day wasn’t enough to overcome the staff’s tough start. Junior third baseman Mac Horvath’s hitting kept the Tar Heels in the game, but Seton Hall stunned them 10–8 Friday at Boshamer Stadium on a chilly Opening Day.

Restocked, deeper pitching staff, stars such as Honeycutt have expectations high for UNC baseball

CHAPEL HILL — They say that you can never have enough pitching. With an influx of newcomers, reigning ACC champion North Carolina will have plenty to bolster a talented roster. The Tar Heels lost some veterans but many players who were key parts of last season’s incredible second-half run return, including sensational center fielder Vance Honeycutt, third baseman Mac Horvath and pitcher Max Carlson.