The Diamond Heels swept Notre Dame in a three-game series at Boshamer Stadium during the weekend, and in the process set a program record with their 27th straight home win. Carolina’s 23 consecutive home wins to open the 2024 season is also a program record.

“I feel like we’ve always been good here,” said head coach Scott Forbes. “And I feel like the other teams feel like that. To me, I look at it as a positive. I don’t look at it as any pressure. I’m like, ‘Hey, the pressure’s on the other dugout, because they know how good we are at home. So use that to your advantage, and be proud of it.'”

Carolina ran roughshod in the first game, scoring in six of seven innings played to win via run rule, 13-0. Six of those runs came in the bottom of the sixth, with Luke Stevenson providing the capper with a three-run blast to right field. It was one of three home runs by the Tar Heels on the evening, as Parks Harber opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first and Casey Cook hit a two-run bomb in the third. Alex Madera, Anthony Donofrio and Vance Honeycutt also picked up RBIs in support of Carolina starter Jason DeCaro, who tossed six scoreless innings to earn his second win. It was UNC’s largest win in ACC play.

Carolina got another strong start on the mound in the second game on Saturday. Shea Sprague lasted 5.2 innings and gave up just two run while striking out four. It was enough for the Elon transfer to earn his second win of the season. The Tar Heel bats jumped out to a 3-0 lead, with Anthony Donofrio collecting a pair of RBIs on a solo shot in the first inning and a single in the fifth. Alberto Osuna also went yard in the second.

After the Fighting Irish cut the Carolina lead to 3-2 in the sixth, Madera came through with insurance in the bottom of the inning, knocking in two runs with a single. A Honeycutt home run in the seventh and Johnny Castagnozzi sacrifice fly in the eighth pushed the lead to 7-2, which was more than enough for the Tar Heel bullpen. Dalton Pence and Matthew Matthijs combined for 3.1 scoreless innings of relief to slam the door.

On Sunday, Carolina took the lead early on a two-run Vance Honeycutt home run in the bottom of the first. It was Honeycutt’s 49th home run in his collegiate career, which ties him for second on the program’s all-time leaderboard. The Tar heels added runs in the second and third before erupting for five in the fourth, taking advantage of a wild pitch and a dropped fly ball in the process.

On the mound, Aidan Haugh got his first start and twirled five scoreless innings, striking out six and allowing just three hits. It was more than enough for Haugh’s second win of the season.

 

“For some people, they might find [be] anxious or nervous, but really it’s just another day,” Haugh said. “I tried not to make too much of a deal out of it and just go out there and have fun.”

Kyle Percival, Cameron Padgett, Ben Peterson and Matt Poston combined to pitch the final four innings to secure the 10-3 win.

“Sweeps are hard to get,” said Forbes. “I’m happy where we are, but we obviously have to keep getting better in all areas. I felt like this weekend, we played well. If they made a mistake, we capitalized on it.”

The sweep – the team’s seventh of the year – improves Carolina to 29-7 overall and 14-4 in conference play this season. The Diamond Heels sit in first place in the Coastal Division standings and will be back in action at home on Tuesday against No. 20 Coastal Carolina.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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