Three Diamond Heel pitchers combined to throw a seven-inning no-hitter – the program’s first official no-hitter since 1999 – against Gardner-Webb at Boshamer Stadium Tuesday night. UNC won 11-1 in a game ended after the top of the seventh due to the 10-run rule.

Folger Boaz (three innings), Olin Johnson (three innings) and Camron Seagraves (one inning) each silenced the Gardner-Webb bats, with Johnson picking up the win in relief of Boaz. The Runnin’ Bulldogs’ only run came in the top of the second, when two errors and a wild pitch brought a runner home and gave Gardner-Webb a 1-0 lead.

UNC took the lead for good on a two-run home run from Hunter Stokely in the third, then broke the game open with a nine-run sixth. Sam Angelo picked up three RBIs in the inning, with the first two coming on a home run and the last coming on a double after the Diamond Heels batted around. Stokely, Perry Hargett and Tyson Bass each also drove in runs.

With the score 11-1 entering the seventh, UNC needed to hold Gardner-Webb without a run to trigger the 10-run rule. Seagraves did just that, retiring the Bulldogs in order to end the game and secure his team’s no-hitter. In addition to the no hits, the trio of UNC pitchers allowed just one walk and struck out eight.

Ironically, the no-hitter comes less than two weeks after UNC’s Aidan Haugh was denied a seven-inning, run-rule no-hitter at Boston College after the last batter of the game hit a ball which struck a baserunner. The baserunner was declared out and the play ruled a hit, ending the game but snubbing Haugh of a piece of history.

Tuesday’s win improves UNC to 22-7 overall this season and 15-4 at home. The Diamond Heels will be back in action when they host rival Duke for a three-game series at Boshamer Stadium later this week. First pitch of Thursday’s opening game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications


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