The Diamond Heels bounced back from their second loss of the season Friday afternoon, topping visiting Pittsburgh at Boshamer Stadium to open ACC play 1-0.

The top of Carolina’s lineup did damage all day long. Outfielders Angel Zarate and Vance Honeycutt combined to bat 4-8, with four runs scored, two RBI and two walks. Honeycutt scored UNC’s first run of the day after reaching on an error, moving to second on a walk, and then to third and home on two consecutive groundouts.

Manufacturing runs was the name of the game for the Tar Heels on Friday, though Honeycutt showed he can do it the quick way, too. The freshman star blasted his sixth home run of the season in the fifth inning to give Carolina a 4-2 lead. He is the only Tar Heel with more than three long balls this season.

Pitt tied it with a two-run blast in the next inning, but Mac Horvath broke the deadlock in the bottom of the frame with a single to score Danny Serretti. Serretti got an RBI of his own in the seventh, singling home Angel Zarate, who had advanced to third after Johnny Castagnozzi reached on another Panthers error. Honeycutt provided more insurance in the eighth, stealing second after walking and then scoring on a Zarate single. It was Honeycutt’s team-leading 13th stolen base of the season. No other Tar Heel has more than four.

Lefty Brandon Schaeffer once again took the mound as the Friday starter for Carolina, but was knocked around for 10 hits over his 5.1 innings of work. Fortunately for Schaeffer and the Tar Heels, the bullpen combined to shut out the Panthers over the final 3.2 innings while the offense took the lead. Kyle Mott earned his third win of the season with 2.2 no-hit innings, and Caden O’Brien came out for the ninth to seal his third save of the season.

Carolina is now 12-2 on the young season and 1-0 in conference play. Weather permitting, the team will host Pittsburgh for two more games at Boshamer Stadium this weekend. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 2 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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
‹
Here's the Complete Bracket for the 2026 ACC Baseball Tournament
The 2026 ACC Baseball Tournament will take place this week at Truist Field in Charlotte. UNC is the defending champion in the tournament and will compete as the No. 2 seed in the field. The 2026 season is the second consecutive year the ACC will be using a basic single-elimination format for the tournament, as […]
UNC Baseball Pulls Away Late to Beat Virginia Tech in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals
The Diamond Heels scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break open a close game and beat No. 7 seed Virginia Tech 10-4 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in Charlotte Friday afternoon. 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 💪#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/dhshA3dqrk — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) May 22, 2026 UNC entered the eighth […]
UNC Baseball in the 2026 ACC Tournament: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start Time
The Diamond Heels will compete in the ACC Tournament semifinals Saturday in Charlotte. UNC is the defending tournament champion and the No. 2 overall seed. If you aren’t in Charlotte with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen to the game on the radio with Dave […]
UNC's Caden Glauber Named ACC Freshman of the Year; Several Other Teammates Honored
UNC relief pitcher Caden Glauber was named first team All-ACC and the league’s Freshman of the Year Monday. The conference doled out several other honors to the Diamond Heels, as three of Glauber’s teammates also received first team recognition. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 🏆@GlauberCaden is your ACC Freshman of the Year! pic.twitter.com/FMbkEo6jOb — Carolina […]
UNC Baseball Drops Regular Season Finale at NC State; Will Be No. 2 Seed in ACC Tournament
The Diamond Heels fell behind early and could not complete a three-game sweep of NC State in Raleigh Saturday, losing 7-2 in the regular season finale. The Wolfpack struck for two runs in the first inning against Carolina starter Folger Boaz, and it was the start of a long afternoon for UNC pitching. NC State […]
UNC Baseball Drills NC State in Run Rule Victory to Clinch Series Win
The Diamond Heels scored five runs in the second inning, four in the fourth and seven in the fifth on their way to a 17-7 win at NC State Friday in Raleigh. The win, which came in seven innings via the run rule, clinched a ninth consecutive series win for UNC. 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐈𝐓 𝐔𝐏 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐊 […]
UNC Baseball Stays Hot With Series Opening Win at NC State
The Diamond Heels scored five runs in the top of the fifth inning on their way to a 9-4 win at NC State in Raleigh Thursday night. 𝐖𝐨𝐧 the first battle. Start the series strong 💪#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/ouJhmgIWCh — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) May 15, 2026 The big inning came after UNC had already taken […]
UNC Baseball at NC State (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start Times
The Diamond Heels will wrap up the regular season when they visit NC State in Raleigh for a three-game series beginning Thursday night. UNC is 20-7 in conference games this year and still has a chance to win the ACC regular season title, though it would need Georgia Tech to lose twice to do so. […]
UNC Baseball Hits 4 Home Runs, Wins Slugfest at UNC-Wilmington
The Diamond Heels set a new season high by hitting four home runs in a 13-7 win at UNC-Wilmington Tuesday night. It was the second win of the season for UNC against the Seahawks, after Carolina won 14-5 at Boshamer Stadium in April. Bosh Bombers brought it to the beach! 🏖️#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/5RHrMzIGKH — […]
UNC Baseball Beats Pittsburgh to Finish Off Sweep in Regular Season Home Finale
The Diamond Heels broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the sixth inning on their way to a 7-3 win against Pittsburgh at Boshamer Stadium Sunday. The win finished off a three-game sweep of the Panthers, UNC’s first at home in ACC play. 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐒𝐇 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐒🧹🧹🧹 Sent the seniors out with a […]
›