Dream Come True: Datres' Walk-off Gives No. 10 UNC Win in Home Opener

UNC freshman second baseman Kyle Datres’s walk-off single not only gave the No. 10 Tar Heels a 2-1 victory over the No. 12 Oklahoma State Cowboys in their home opener on Friday—it gave Datres a storybook beginning to his college career that’s been in the works for five years now.

“Freshman year [of high school], my football coach was one of my teachers,” Datres, a Pennsylvania native, said after the game. “And the first day of class we had to write down three goals.

“My first goal on the sheet was to play baseball at the University of North Carolina.”

Datres couldn’t remember what else he wrote on that list—but picking up a game-winning hit in his first game at Boshamer Stadium was likely something he’s dreamed about ever since.

The UNC dugout explodes with joy on Friday. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

The freshman went 2-for-5 on Friday and was one of four Tar Heels to pick up multiple hits in the game.

Needless to say, he was a kid in a candy store during his first postgame interview.

“Just think about all the great memories that have happened here at the Bosh,” Datres said. “My first time here playing, to end the game like that—it means something special.”

Datres’ performance also quickly proved to fans in Chapel Hill why head coach Mike Fox has him hitting third despite his young age.

“He’s hitting in the three hole for a reason,” Fox said of Datres. “He’s a good player. I don’t really look at what year they are.

“He’s tough physically and mentally, so this was fun,” the coach added. “This is gonna be a fun group to watch all year.”

The ninth-inning heroics by Datres have the Tar Heels off to a 3-1 start in 2016, with every game against teams ranked in the top 15.

It also gives junior starting pitcher Zac Gallen his second win of the year after yet another dominant outing.

Despite not having his best stuff on Friday, Gallen struck out nine Cowboys in seven innings—giving up just three hits, one of which was a solo home run by Oklahoma State third baseman Garrett Benge that tied the game in the third frame.

Zac Gallen put forth another masterful effort on Friday, something that has become the norm. (Jeffrey A. Camarati/ UNC Athletics)

As one of two captains on the team, Gallen has taken on a much bigger leadership role this season helping to mentor players like Datres—with the ultimate goal of building a team that is much more cohesive than in recent years.

“I kinda knew that coming in [this season], I’d have to take this leadership role, be a little bit more vocal,” Gallen said. “But when Coach Fox gave me that honor [of being a captain] it just kind of solidified it amongst the team.

“The younger guys in there, they can come to me with anything they need on and off the field.”

After seeing the way his team has come together early on, Fox couldn’t help but revert to one of his signature phrases—winning breeds confidence.

But still he understands that it’s baseball. The season is a marathon, not a sprint.

“I think our kids came back from California confident, and feeling like we should have won—and could have won—all three games,” he said. “Now this one, and it all kind of mixes together.

“They gotta be feeling good,” he continued. “But I’ll have to go in there and calm ‘em down a little bit because again, it is just one game.”

Up Next:

The Tar Heels will resume their series with Oklahoma State on Saturday, with first pitch set for 2 p.m.

Game Notes:

Gallen picked up two of his three walks in the first inning, but he was able to escape unscathed from a bases-loaded jam.
Junior center fielder Tyler Ramirez picked up the Tar Heels’ first RBI of the day with a double in the first inning. He finished the day 2-for-3.
Relievers AJ Bogucki and Hunter Williams combined to finish out the game for UNC.

FINAL BOX SCORE

Dream Come True: Datres’ Walk-off Gives No. 10 UNC Win in Home Opener

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