Despite managing only three hits on the night, the Diamond Heels picked up their first road win over a ranked team Wednesday night in Greenville, defeating No. 14 East Carolina 2-1.

Only one Tar Heel reached base through the first three innings, but Vance Honeycutt broke the offensive silence in the top of the fourth with his 12th home run of the season. The 1-0 Carolina lead only lasted until the bottom of the inning, when the Pirates scratched a run across against starter Connor Bovair.

The Tar Heels broke the tie in the sixth, using a leadoff walk, an error and a single to load the bases with nobody out for Hunter Stokely. A fielder’s choice from Stokely was all that was needed to score Jackson Van De Brake from third base, and Carolina had the lead again.

Unlike UNC’s previous two games against the Pirates this season, the late Tar Heel lead would hold up. Dalton Pence and Max Carlson combined to allow just two baserunners over the final four innings, with Pence picking up his fourth win and Carlson his first save of the season. Carlson appears to have adapted well to his new role in the bullpen, as the former No. 1 starter twirled three no-hit innings with only one walk to slam the door on the Pirates.

The win moves Carolina to 29-17 on the season entering the exam break. The Tar Heels won’t play a series this weekend for the first time all season, but will be back in action at Boshamer Stadium on May 9 at 6 p.m. against Gardner-Webb.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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
‹
'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 […]
UNC Baseball to be Featured in 'MLB The Show 26' Video Game
The Diamond Heels are in the game. UNC is one of 11 college baseball programs who will be added to the video game “MLB The Show 26” as part of its “Road to the Show” mode. In MLB The Show 26, Road To The Show adds 11 new colleges. @DiamondHeels Here’s your sneak peak at […]
UNC Baseball Releases 2026 Regular Season Schedule
The Diamond Heels announced their 2026 regular season schedule Tuesday. Carolina is coming off a 2025 season which saw it win the ACC Tournament in Durham and reach the Super Regionals in the NCAA Tournament. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫! The 2026 Diamond Heels schedule is here and it is glorious 🔥 📰 | https://t.co/fvngu5xSrp […]
UNC Baseball to Play October Scrimmage vs. NC State at Durham Bulls Athletic Park
The Diamond Heels will play a fall scrimmage against rival NC State at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in October, the program announced Wednesday. The game is scheduled for Thursday, October 16 at 6 p.m. 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐁𝐀𝐏: 𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙴𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 We're headed back to Durham for a fall faceoff against the Wolfpack! May be a […]
UNC's Home Run Remington Announces 'Retirement' from Baseball Games
After nine seasons of loyal service to the Diamond Heels, UNC’s Athletics Rehabilitative Facility Dog, better known as “Home Run Remington,” has announced his “retirement.” View this post on Instagram 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢 🩵 Our favorite dawg is ready for the 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 of retirement! Thank you for all you’ve done for Carolina Baseball. You […]
Chansky's Notebook: Draft Crush
UNC joins Michigan and Arizona as the three schools to have at least one athlete picked in the first round of the NFL, NBA and MLB drafts.
2025 MLB Draft Tracker: See Where the Diamond Heels are Headed in the Pros
The 2025 Major League Baseball Draft saw several Diamond Heels get selected. It continues a run of excellence for the UNC baseball program, which has had at least one player selected in every draft since 1978. The first Diamond Heel off the board was catcher Luke Stevenson, who went to the Seattle Mariners with the No. 35 […]
UNC Outfielder Kane Kepley Selected by Chicago Cubs in 2nd Round of MLB Draft
Kane Kepley is headed to the Show. The Chicago Cubs selected Kepley with in the second round with the No. 56 overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft Sunday evening in Atlanta. About to be 𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍 𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐄 in the Windy City! Kep is a Cub 🦁🐻#ProHeels pic.twitter.com/IsjxlBfnaa — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 14, 2025 Kepley […]
›