CHAPEL HILL- The No. 1 North Carolina baseball team has handled high expectations successfully this season as it has suffered only two loses both to ACC teams after 31 games.

Here is Head Coach Mike Fox on the season.

“We got off to a good start and obviously expectations have been really high for our ball club since the very beginning and that is a little unnerving as a coach, but veteran team and I think our players just derelished those expectations and really had them of themselves,” says Fox. “As we all know we are only about half way through the season, but so far we’ve played at a very high level.”

The Tar Heels opened the season 16-0, which was ended with their first loss to Miami in game one of a series. North Carolina came back to win the second two games and took the series.

The second loss for North Carolina happened in game three of a series with Clemson.

In the ACC Coastal Division the Tar Heels hold the top spot with a conference record of 12-2.

Fox says defense has been crucial.

“I really think the key to our club so far has been the fact that we’ve played well defensively,” says Fox.

Senior first baseman Cody Stubbs has been named the ACC Baseball Player of the Week for his second time. Stubbs helped lead the Tar Heels to a 5-1 week as he went 12-24 at the plate and had 12 runs.

Stubbs is running on a seven game hitting streak which he extended during the 3-0 series sweep against Maryland over the weekend as he recorded a hit per game and totaled seven runs. Stubbs currently holds the top spot in the conference for both RBIs with 42, and batting average with .402.

Here is Fox on Stubbs.

“If there is a reason we are 29-2 besides our pitching staff, it’s Cody Stubbs,” says Fox. “If you would have told me before the season started that after 31 games, Cody Stubbs would be leading the ACC in hitting, leading the league in RBIs, and leading our team in average, I would have told you well if that’s the case then we might be 31-0.”

Freshman outfielder Skye Bolt and junior third baseman Colin Moran follow Stubbs in batting average with .389 and .381, respectively. Moran leads the Tar Heels in runs with 40 and home runs with seven.

Up next North Carolina will travel to Elon for some mid-week action on Tuesday. Elon is first in the SoCon conference with a 12-6 record, and is 20-13 overall. Elon has played ACC members NC State and Virginia Tech this season. The Phoenix split with the Wolfpack and defeated the Hoakies.
The Tar Heels have a 29-9 advantage over the Phoenix. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. in Elon.