After resuming a game halted Friday night due to weather, the Diamond Heels earned a back-and-forth victory at NC State Saturday afternoon to take game one of the weekend series.
The game was suspended Friday night in the top of the fifth inning with the teams tied at 1-1. Upon resumption Saturday, Carolina took a 2-1 lead on a Wolfpack error, which allowed Mac Horvath to score from third base. Horvath had been stuck on base for approximately 17 hours, having walked and stolen second to begin the inning on Friday night.
NC State slingshot themselves into the lead in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of an earlier throwing error from Nik Pry to score two runs.
But Carolina answered in a big way in the sixth, with a leadoff home run from Vance Honeycutt tying the game at 3-3 and paving the way for four more UNC runs. After an Angel Zarate single and a walk from Horvath, Hunter Stokely sent a moonshot over the right field fence for his second home run of the year. Tomas Frick followed up Stokely’s blast with an RBI double to score Johnny Castagnozzi all the way from first base, and UNC led 7-3.
The lead wouldn’t last long, as the Wolfpack scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and then another in the seventh, tying the game at 7-7 entering the final two innings. Gage Gillian got the ball in the bottom of the eighth and sent the Wolfpack down in order, erasing a one-out single with a double play to end the inning.
Pinch hitting for Mikey Madej, Max Riemer led off the top of the ninth for Carolina and drew a walk. Riemer was then pulled for pinch runner Reece Holbrook, who advanced to second on a Honeycutt bunt and then to third on a single by Zarate. Horvath then rewarded Holbrook for his baserunning, bringing him in with a go-ahead sacrifice fly.
Though the Tar Heels stranded two runners to end the ninth, Gillian needed only the one-run cushion, retiring the side in the bottom in the ninth on 12 pitches to give UNC the critical win. It’s Carolina’s first win over the Wolfpack since 2019, after the series was cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020 and NC State swept Carolina last season.
The second game of the series, originally scheduled for Saturday, was postponed due to rain. NC State will host a doubleheader for games 2 and 3 on Sunday.
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.
›
