The Diamond Heels rode a strong pitching performance from starter Jason DeCaro to a 5-1 win against visiting Texas Tech in the 2025 season opener at Boshamer Stadium on Friday afternoon, then beat the Red Raiders again, 8-3, in the nightcap. The doubleheader was scheduled to avoid inclement weather in the Chapel Hill area during the weekend.

DeCaro, a sophomore right-hander from Long Island, threw 76 pitches across five scoreless, one-hit innings while striking out six and walking two. The Red Raiders’ only hit against the Carolina ace came with two outs in the fifth. DeCaro then retired the next hitter and concluded his day.

The UNC bats gave DeCaro immediate support, was Division III transfer Sam Angelo hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning to put Carolina in front 1-0. Hunter Stokely and fellow Division III transfer Tyson Bass each collected RBIs in the second inning, Alex Madera collected one in the third and Bass added another with a double in the fourth.

The Red Raiders scored their only run of the game on a home run in the top of the eighth inning, though the visitors had come close to another in the sixth on a long fly ball to center field. But center fielder Kane Kepley, a transfer from Liberty, timed his jump perfectly to rob the potential home run and give Carolina an early season highlight.

Jake Knapp, pitching in his first official game in two years after missing all of 2024 with a torn UCL, relieved DeCaro and pitched the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out three. Matthew Matthijs closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning.

The win gives Carolina a 1-0 start to the season for the 25th time in the last 28 seasons.

Bass stayed hot in the second game of the doubleheader, singling to drive home Kepley in the bottom of the first inning to put UNC in front. Hunter Stokely collected his first two RBIs of the young season in the bottom of the fourth, but Texas Tech scored two runs in the fifth against the Carolina bullpen to take its first lead of the day, 3-2.

The Tar Heels answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Rom Kellis, yet another transfer added by head coach Scott Forbes, began the rally with a double to drive in Luke Stevenson. After a walk from Angelo, Madera singled to score Kellis, moving Angelo over to third. Angelo would then score on a throwing error.

Kepley added one more run for good measure in the sixth, doubling before advancing to third and then scoring on two wild pitches.

On the mound, starting pitcher Aidan Haugh lasted three innings, allowing a run on four hits while striking out three. Kyle Percival lasted 1.1 innings before yielding to true freshman Walker McDuffie, who earned the first win of his collegiate career with 3.2 scoreless innings and five strikeouts. Folger Boaz struck out the side in the top of the ninth to secure the UNC win.

Carolina will look to sweep the Red Raiders in the third game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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