Last Week’s Results: Beat St. John's on Tuesday and won weekend series with USC 2-1
Record Last Week: 3-1
Overall Record: 8-2
Upcoming Schedule: 3/6 vs Davidson, 3/7 at Elon, 3/9-3/11 at Clemson
UNC gets solid pitching to win three of four games including a series win over USC.
The Diamond Heels played their first midweek game of the season beating St. John's on Tuesday 8-4 behind a strong hitting performance out of the heart of the order. Cody Stubbs had three RBIs while Colin Moran and Jacob Stallings had a pair of RBIs each to pace the offense. Moran ended up 4-5 on the day. Freshmen Benton Moss got the start and went 3.1 innings giving one earned run and striking out three. Sophomore Shane Taylor followed in relief for 3.2 innings and gave up three runs while striking out six. Cody Penny and Michael Morin closed the game out.
Over the weekend, UNC faced a tough USC team and winning two out of three. Kent Emanuel got his third win of the season in six strong shutout innings. Emanuel gave up six hits and struck out eight to continue his outstanding start of the season. There was plenty of offensive help in this one via the long ball. Both Stubbs and Moran went deep and combined for five RBIs as the Heels took the series opener 11-1.
In the second game it was all pitching as the Heels used six hurlers to shutout USC in a 1-0 series clinching win. Chris Munnelly threw 103 pitches in seven innings before giving way to Mike Fox's revolving door bullpen. RC Orlan, Cody Penny, Tate Parrish and Shane Taylor all faced batters in the eighth inning which saw the Trojans put a runners on base. Michael Morin retired the first two batters he faced, gave up a two out single then recorded a game ending strikeout to secure the win.
The series finale was less kind to the Heels with USC scoring five runs in the fifth and holding on for the 5-2 win. UNC starter Chris O'Brien gave up four runs in 4.2 innings of work and Shane Taylor gave up an additional run in relief. Hobbs Johnson came in to retire all 11 batters he faced striking out five but the Tar Heel bats were held quiet only producing seven hits and leaving nine on base.
UNC finishes up the season opening 11 game home stand on Tuesday vs Davidson before heading on the road to Elon on Wednesday and then a big three game series at Clemson. The Tigers are traditionally very good and projected to be a contender in the Atlantic Division. This will be the first real test for the Heels this season and it comes on the road.