The Diamond Heels kept their unbeaten home record intact Tuesday evening, using dominant relief efforts from Shaddon Peavyhouse and Davis Palermo to top VMI, 5-1, at Boshamer Stadium.
Connor Ollio got the start on the mound for Carolina, and though he held the Keydets to just one run over four innings, he left with a no-decision. UNC held a brief lead in the bottom of the third inning after an RBI single from Tomas Frick scored Vance Honeycutt, but VMI answered the next inning with a run of their own.
Carolina pushed three runs across to take the lead back for good in the bottom of the fourth, all of which came on plays where the ball didn’t leave the infield. With the bases loaded, Angel Zarate was hit by a pitch to drive in a run. Patrick Alvarez, who advanced to third base, then scored on a balk by the VMI pitcher. A groundout by Frick scored Honeycutt, who had taken third on the balk.
With the lead in hand, head coach Scott Forbes turned the ball over to his bullpen. Peavyhouse and Palermo were dazzling in their five combined innings of relief, holding the Keydets without a hit, striking out eight and allowing just two baserunners between them. Peavyhouse earned his second win of the season in the effort, while Palermo earned a rare nine-out save for going the final three innings.
In the winning effort, Zarate extended his hitting streak to 17 games and his on-base streak to 40 games, going 1-4 on the evening. Unsurprisingly, Zarate leads the team with a .424 batting average this season. Frick collected his 16th and 17th RBI of the season, moving him into the team lead. He’s one of four UNC starters batting over .300 in 2022.
Carolina, ranked in the top 20 in all the major national polls, is now 15-0 at Boshamer Stadium this season. UNC was scheduled to take the diamond again Wednesday afternoon against Richmond, but that game has been postponed due to inclement weather. The team will next be in action for its first true road series of the season, a visit to Duke this weekend.
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
‹
Shortstop Tyler Jackson, Son of Assistant Coach Scott Jackson, Commits to UNC BaseballShortstop prospect Tyler Jackson, the son of UNC assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Scott Jackson, committed to the Diamond Heels Tuesday. A rising junior in high school, Jackson is the first member of the recruiting class of 2028 to commit to UNC. In a nice coincidence for his future head coach, Jackson’s commitment also came […]
Jason DeCaro, Reese Brantmeier, Ryleigh Heck Named 2026 Patterson Medal WinnersUNC announced the 2026 class of Patterson Medal winners Tuesday morning. The Patterson Medal, first awarded in 1924, is the school’s most prestigious honor for athletic excellence and career achievement. To receive the award, Tar Heel athletes must have competed in at least three seasons for UNC and have exhausted their collegiate eligibility. The 2026 […]
'We Still Got Work to Do': Gavin Gallaher Confirms Return to UNC Baseball for 2027 SeasonGavin Gallaher is back. The UNC baseball co-captain confirmed his return to the Diamond Heels Tuesday after not being selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. Gallaher is a rising senior and, thanks to the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 rule for student-athletes, will have two years of eligibility remaining. Tar Heel Nation, we still got work to […]
Diamond Heels in the 2026 MLB Draft: Who's Going Where?Several UNC baseball players have been selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, which runs through Sunday in Philadelphia. The MLB Draft is different from its counterparts in leagues such as the NFL and NBA, in that players with remaining eligibility can choose to return to school even after being drafted. Here’s a look at which […]
UNC's Jason DeCaro Picked by Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 MLB DraftThe Pittsburgh Pirates selected UNC pitcher Jason DeCaro in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft. He was the 80th overall pick. 𝐃𝐞𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐲 coming 🔜 in the Burgh!! The @Pirates find draft treasure in @JasonDeCaro2. #ProHeels x @YoungBucsPIT pic.twitter.com/y6WY5AiBPI — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 11, 2026 A three-year starter in the Carolina pitching […]
Boston Red Rox Select UNC Outfielder Owen Hull in 2026 MLB DraftOwen Hull is off the board in the MLB Draft. The Red Sox selected the UNC outfielder in the second round of the draft Saturday in Philadelphia. Hull was the 67th overall pick, and is the second Diamond Heel to be drafted this year following Jake Schaffner’s selection at No. 20 overall by the same […]
UNC Shortstop Jake Schaffner Selected by Boston Red Sox in 1st Round of 2026 MLB DraftThe Boston Red Sox selected UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner with the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft Saturday. He’s the first Diamond Heel to be selected in this year’s draft. Schaff is 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣 ‼️‼️ From Janesville now to Bean Town, @JakeSchaffner3 is a first round […]
UNC's Caden Glauber Named D1Baseball's National Freshman of the YearUNC pitcher Caden Glauber took home another individual honor Tuesday, as D1Baseball named him its National Freshman of the Year. 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 🌎 One of the most extraordinary rookie campaigns in college baseball history is commemorated with @d1baseball's 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 award. pic.twitter.com/8icFGsbl0G — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 30, 2026 Glauber, who played the […]
Check out the Full Schedule for UNC's ACC Network TakeoverThe ACC Network will air a full day of UNC games from the 2025-26 academic year Wednesday, July 1. It’s part of a series of ACC Network Takeovers, which started June 24 and include all 18 member schools. UNC’s takeover includes wall-to-wall coverage from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The broadcast day gets underway with […]
UNC Baseball Fall Short vs. Oklahoma in Game 3 of National Championship SeriesOklahoma took the lead early and steadily pulled away from the Diamond Heels in Game 3 of the national championship series Monday night.
›
