Oops, they did it again.

For the second time in three days, the Diamond Heels’ bullpen spoiled a strong start and cost the team the game against East Carolina. This time, 5.2 innings from starter Connor Bovair went to waste when the Pirates scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning en route to a 6-5 win.

Bovair had allowed just two runs on three hits in his start, striking out six and leaving in line for a win after 81 pitches. Nelson Berkwich recorded the last out of the sixth, but allowed two runners to reach in the top of the seventh. Justin Szestowicki relieved Berkwich but allowed four runs to score on three straight hits. The last two of those runs, which gave the Pirates a 6-5 lead, were charged to Szestowicki and hung him with the loss.

Like Friday night’s game in Greenville, UNC threatened to turn the game around in its final at-bats. The first two batters reached in the bottom of the ninth on an error and a hit batsman, but two fly outs and a groundout stranded both men and dealt Carolina another tough loss. It’s already the Diamond Heels’ second loss at Boshamer Stadium this season.

Vance Honeycutt hit his first home run of the season in the loss, and Tomas Frick recorded three hits and was a triple short of the cycle. Mac Horvath also homered and now leads the team with four long balls on the young season.

Carolina will stay at Boshamer Stadium this week, as old foes VCU will visit Chapel Hill for a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Diamond Heels and Rams faced off in three memorable games in last summer’s NCAA Tournament, with Carolina winning two out of three to advance to the Super Regionals.

 

Featured image via Aaron Fitt 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
‹
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 A post shared by Home Run REMINGTON (@homerunremington) 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢 🩵 Our favorite dawg is ready for the 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 of retirement! Thank 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 […]
UNC's Luke Stevenson Selected by Seattle Mariners in 1st Round of MLB Draft
The Seattle Mariners selected UNC catcher Luke Stevenson with the No. 35 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft Sunday. Call him 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 😤 Going to be rainin homers up there soon! #ProHeels | #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/YfpM9r2FjJ — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 14, 2025 Stevenson, a draft-eligible sophomore, […]
Chansky's Notebook: Growing Pains
Former UNC star Vance Honeycutt signed a $4 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, but he is struggling in the minor leagues.
Check Out the Complete Schedule for UNC's 'ACC Network Takeover' July 8
The ACC Network will feature 24 hours of Tar Heel highlights from the 2024-25 athletic year Tuesday as part of its annual “ACC Network Takeover.” Programming begins at midnight and lasts through 11:59 p.m. Featured games include the women’s basketball team’s win against No. 10 NC State at Carmichael Arena back in February. Those who […]
College Baseball Foundation Names UNC's Jake Knapp National Pitcher of the Year
UNC right-hander Jake Knapp has been named the National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation. 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 👏 Jake Knapp is the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿. pic.twitter.com/uFaFnNZAWy — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 13, 2025 Knapp missed the entirety of the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery during the […]
Late Collapse Dooms UNC Baseball in NCAA Super Regional Game 3
Arizona capitalized on a pair of fielding errors in the top of the eighth inning to score three runs and stun the Diamond Heels 4-3 in the winner-take-all game of the NCAA Super Regionals at Boshamer Stadium Sunday afternoon. UNC’s season is over. Carolina entered the inning leading 3-1 on the strength of a three-run […]
›