The Diamond Heels lost two competitive games to No. 11 East Carolina on Saturday and Sunday, losing the series despite winning Friday’s opener. Carolina is now 5-2 on the season.

Saturday’s game in Fayetteville saw UNC dig itself into a deep hole and then nearly climb back out. Carolina went down 2-0 in the third, 4-0 in the fifth and finally 7-0 after three more runs in the seventh. Each of the Diamond Heels’ first four pitchers to take the mound allowed at least one run, with starter Ben Peterson tagged with the loss after lasting only 3.1 innings and giving up two.

Carolina’s offense finally found some life in the bottom of the eighth, as Alberto Osuna and Vance Honeycutt both homered to cut the lead to 7-3. UNC put together another rally in the ninth, as Osuna drove in a run with a single and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs. Unfortunately for Carolina, Alex Madera lined out to third base, sealing the team’s first loss of the season.

The rubber match on Sunday in Greenville would be full of twists and turns. Once again, ECU jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first and another in the second. A home run in the fifth extended the lead to 4-0, but Carolina had an answer. Casey Cook cut the deficit in half with a two-run blast in the sixth, and Gavin Gallaher came up big in the seventh with a pinch-hit, three-run home run to give the Diamond Heels their first lead since Friday night.

But in a sign of things to come, ECU answered right back. The Pirates tallied three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh, going back up 7-5. UNC then took its turn on the yo-yo, scoring three more runs in the top of the eighth. The bottom of the eighth saw ECU swing back in front again on a two-run home run, but the Diamond Heels still weren’t dead. A wild pitch with runners on second and third and two outs brought the tying run across home plate, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth tied 9-9.

Despite striking out the first Pirate batter, the inning went off the rails in a hurry for Carolina. A single, double and intentional walk loaded the bases, and after UNC brought the infield in, ECU’s Bristol Carter lobbed a single into right field to end a thrilling game. Carolina used seven relievers on the day; six gave up at least one hit and five were charged with at least one earned run. None lasted more than two innings.

UNC will return to the friendly confines of Boshamer Stadium to face VCU on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Anthony Sorbellini

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 newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Baseball Wins Midweek Matchups vs. North Carolina A&T, VCU
The Diamond Heels had no trouble in a pair of midweek games against North Carolina A&T and VCU. Carolina outscored the opposition 22-4 on its way to wins in both matchups at Boshamer Stadium. Tuesday against the Aggies, George Mason transfer Owen Hull had the best game of his young UNC career with three hits […]
UNC Baseball Drops Second Game of East Carolina Series; Final Game Declared a Tie
The Diamond Heels fell in the second game of this weekend’s three-game series against East Carolina and ended Sunday’s rubber match after five innings due to weather conditions. As the score was tied 3-3 at the time of the stoppage, the game will officially go down as a tie. Saturday’s game at Durham Bulls Athletic […]
DeCaro Dazzles as UNC Baseball Beats East Carolina in Series Opener
Jason DeCaro threw a complete-game shutout and the UNC lineup banged out 12 hits as the Diamond Heels rolled past East Carolina 10-0 in Greenville Friday night. The game was ended after eight innings via the run rule. Sprinkled in a 𝘿𝙐𝘽 💪#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/1a6yCgvcLv — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) February 21, 2026 Carolina provided […]
Chansky's Notebook: An Early Test
One of the most unique series on the college baseball calendar gets underway tonight as UNC and ECU open their three-ballpark series.
UNC Baseball Wins Midweek Games vs. Richmond, Longwood
The Diamond Heels hosted games against Richmond and Longwood at Boshamer Stadium this week and won both to move to 5-0 this season.
Walk-Off Home Run Helps UNC Baseball Sweep Opening Series vs. Indiana
The Diamond Heels swept a Saturday doubleheader against Indiana at Boshamer Stadium Saturday, and in the process swept the three-game opening series against the Hoosiers. Carolina ended the first game early via the 10-run rule, scoring three runs in the fifth, six in the sixth and two in the seventh to earn a 12-2 win. […]
Big Inning Helps UNC Baseball Beat Indiana in 2026 Season Opener
The Diamond Heels scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on their way to a 9-4 win against Indiana in the season opener at Boshamer Stadium Friday. WON and oh! #GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/U4BRtzk7db — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) February 14, 2026 UNC’s big inning broke open what had been a close game, […]
'Our Guys Are Ready': UNC Baseball Expresses Excitement Ahead of 2026 Season
After one of the most gut-wrenching losses of his life, Scott Forbes had to turn his frown upside down. Because just one day removed from the end of the Diamond Heels’ 2025 season, Forbes’ program was hosting a key transfer portal target. Welcome to the new world of college athletics. “We lose to Arizona on […]
UNC Baseball Announces $9 Million Gift from Anonymous Donor
The UNC baseball program has announced a $9 million gift from an anonymous donor made through The Rams Club. The gift will go toward the program’s operating endowment, and the donor will match gifts from other fans and supporters to grow the endowment to $25 million. “We are incredibly humbled and grateful for this incredible […]
UNC Baseball Ranked No. 11 in 2026 D1Baseball Preseason Poll
The Diamond Heels are ranked No. 11 in D1Baseball.com’s 2026 preseason poll, which was released Monday morning. UNC joins a loaded list of teams in the Top 25, including reigning national champions LSU at No. 2 and national runners-up Coastal Carolina at No. 6. 2026 D1Baseball Preseason Top 25 📈 Who’s too high? Who's too […]
›