The Diamond Heels opened their 2022 season in a big way Friday afternoon, riding five home runs to a 14-3 win over Seton Hall at Boshamer Stadium.

The Pirates plated two runs in the top of the first inning off starter Brandon Schaeffer, who was making his first appearance as a Tar Heel after transferring in from a junior college in West Virginia. But the Carolina bats wasted no time picking Schaeffer up in the bottom of the frame, with right fielder Angel Zarate leading off with a homer on the first pitch he saw, and shortstop Danny Serretti following up with one of his own to knot the game at 2-2.

Second baseman Patrick Alvarez, batting in the No. 9 spot, would do major damage in the bottom of the second, lifting a no-doubt three-run blast over the left field fence. Highly-touted freshman Vance Honeycutt, getting the opening day start in center field, scored on Alvarez’s homer, then joined in on the fun himself two innings later to make it 6-2 Carolina.

RBI knocks from Serretti and catcher Tomas Frick would follow in the sixth and seventh innings, before Honeycutt once again showcased his power with a three-run homer in the eighth inning to make it 14-3. Honeycutt, who head coach Scott Forbes compared to former World Series MVP George Springer before the season, finished 4-5 with four RBI, four runs scored, a walk and a stolen base in his first collegiate game. He was among three Tar Heels to record at least three hits: first baseman Johnny Castagnozzi finished 3-4 and Serretti finished 4-5 with four RBI of his own.

The lefty Schaeffer settled down after his rocky first inning, giving Forbes six innings of work and allowing just five hits (three of which came in the first) and striking out six while walking two. After Nik Pry got himself into a jam in the seventh, Shawn Rapp and Kyle Mott combined for three shutout innings and five strikeouts to shut the door on the Pirates.

Carolina banged out 15 hits in all on Friday, and will hope their bats stay as unseasonably warm as the February weather on Saturday for game two of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Baseball Earns Run-Rule Win vs. Queens at Boshamer Stadium
The Diamond Heels scored nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on their way to a 14-3 win against Queens at Boshamer Stadium Wednesday evening. The game ended after a two-run home run from Hunter Stokely in the bottom of the eighth brought the 10-run rule into effect. Heels walk off the week!! […]
UNC Baseball Pulls Away Late, Cruises Past George Mason
The Diamond Heels scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to break open a tie game and didn’t look back against George Mason Tuesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium, as UNC beat the Patriots 13-4. It was Carolina’s first completed home game in two weeks, after a home game against Presbyterian last week […]
UNC Baseball Beats Pittsburgh, Wins 6th Straight Weekend Series
Seven shutout innings from starting pitcher Jason DeCaro and timely hitting from Luke Stevenson and Hunter Stokely helped the Diamond Heels win 6-0 at Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon and clinch the weekend series against the Panthers. It’s the sixth straight series victory for UNC. Make that 𝙨𝙞𝙭 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 🔥#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/kOQMCLnw3n — Carolina Baseball […]
UNC Baseball Drops Second Game of Weekend Series at Pittsburgh
The Diamond Heels couldn’t overcome an early deficit at Pittsburgh Saturday, as UNC fell 4-2 in the second game of a three-game series with the Panthers. Pitt struck early against UNC starter Aidan Haugh, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after each of the first four Panther batters reached base. […]
UNC Baseball Rallies from Early Deficit, Clinches Series at Virginia Tech
A towering home run from Jackson Van De Brake and strong performances on the mound helped the Diamond Heels erase an early 2-0 hole and beat Virginia Tech 7-4 in Blacksburg Sunday. The win clinches the weekend series for UNC. Cooked some turkey for Easter this year. #GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/hkL62CKppX — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) […]
UNC Baseball Drops 2nd Game of Weekend Series at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech scored five runs against UNC starter Aidan Haugh in the first inning Saturday, putting the Diamond Heels in a hole they couldn’t climb out of in a 10-6 loss. The Hokies’ opening salvo included three home runs in the span of four batters, and their five runs in the first inning alone were […]
Bats Power UNC Baseball to Win at Virginia Tech in Series Opener
The Diamond Heels banged out 13 hits and nine runs at Virginia Tech Friday night, and it was enough to beat the Hokies 9-6 in the first game of a three-game series. STOKED to take game 1️⃣!!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/iXXR2WhmAB — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) April 19, 2025 UNC never trailed after going ahead 1-0 on […]
UNC Baseball Completes 3-Game Sweep of Wake Forest
Jason DeCaro carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and freshman Lee Sowers came up clutch in the seventh to help the Diamond Heels beat Wake Forest 3-2 and complete a three-game sweep of the Demon Deacons at Boshamer Stadium Sunday afternoon. Brought the Bosh brooms baby 🧹🧹🧹#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/vmtu1hOpYE — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) […]
UNC Baseball Bludgeons Wake Forest Again for 2nd Straight Run-Rule Win
The Diamond Heels used another offensive avalanche to bury visiting Wake Forest early and win via the 10-run rule for the second straight day Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium, pummeling the Demon Deacons 17-1 in a game ended after seven innings. Don't wake us up 🤩 Dream day for Carolina secures the series and our […]
UNC Baseball Dominates Wake Forest in Series Opener, Wins Via Run Rule
After sitting through a rain-induced postponement of what should have been the series opener Thursday night, the Diamond Heels made the 24-hour wait pay off. UNC dominated visiting Wake Forest in the first game of a critical three-game series at Boshamer Stadium Friday night, using a pair of big innings to beat the Demon Deacons […]
›