March 7, 1999
North Carolina (12-0) at Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic
March 8-13, 1999
Fresno, Calif.
NOTING THE TAR HEELS
Carolina is off to its best start ever this season, entering the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic with a record of 12-0.
Carolina has won 28 consecutive non-conference home games, including a 9-0 mark this season after the win over Coastal Carolina on March 4. The last time Carolina lost to a non-conference team at Boshamer Stadium was Feb. 21, 1998 versus Seton Hall. After that loss, the Tar Heels closed the 1998 season with 19 non-conference home wins in a row.
UNC's team ERA is 2.17 and Tar Heel pitchers have struck out 105 batters and issued just 42 walks in 108.0 innings.
The Tar Heels have outscored their opponents, 122-36, this season.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Monday -- RHP Kyle Snyder (Jr., Sarasota, Fla., 4-0, 2.42 ERA)
(last appearance: March 2 vs. Liberty; W, 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K)
Tuesday -- LHP Chris Elmore (Jr., Virginia Beach, Va., 0-0, 3.18 ERA)
(last appearance: Feb. 27 vs. Temple; ND, 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K)
Wednesday -- LHP Ryan Snare (So., Palm Harbor, Fla., 1-0, 2.31 ERA)
(last appearance: March 4 vs. Coastal Carolina; ND, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 B, 0 K)
OR RHP Corey Richardson (Sr., Raleigh, N.C., 3-0, 2.08 ERA)
(last appearance: March 4 vs. Coastal Carolina; ND, 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K)
All Subsequent Games -- Pitching rotation TBA
PITCHING STAFF DOMINATES IN THE EARLY GOING
Carolina's pitching staff is a veteran group that has dominated opposing hitters thus far in 1999. The Tar Heels' team ERA is a paltry 2.17 and UNC pitchers have held the opposition to three runs or less in seven of 12 games thus far this season. Carolina pitchers have compiled 105 strikeouts in 108.0 innings pitched entering the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic while allowing just 42 walks and 83 hits.
TAR HEELS EARN FIRST TOP-5 RANKING SINCE 1984
Carolina earned a ranking of No. 5 in the nation in this week's Baseball America Top 25 poll, released March 1. The Tar Heels reached No. 5 in the BA poll the week of Feb. 22. The No. 5 ranking is Carolina's highest Baseball America ranking since 1984.
The highest ranking Carolina ever has garnered in the Baseball America poll is No. 4, in the first three polls of the 1984 season. Last week, Carolina earned its first top-10 ranking since 1989 and its first top-10 ranking in the Baseball America poll since 1985.
SNYDER LIVES UP TO THE HYPE
RHP Kyle Snyder was named the top pitching prospect in all of college baseball by Baseball America before the 1999 season. Thus far, the hard-throwing 6-8 junior has lived up to the hype, striking out 26 and walking just five while posting a 4-0 record with an ERA of 2.42. Snyder was named a preseason first-team All-America by Baseball America.
GODWIN ON A TEAR
Sophomore Tyrell Godwin leads the Tar Heels in hits, RBI and slugging percentage and is tied for first in doubles this season. His 23 RBI this season exceed his 1998 total of 17 RBI.
Godwin was named the ACC Co-Player of the Week (along with Florida State infielder Marshall McDougall) Feb. 22 after batting .643 (9-for-14) with three doubles, two home runs, six runs scored, 11 RBI and three stolen bases in the Tar Heels' three wins Feb. 19-21 over Seton Hall. He opened the series going 4-for-5 at the plate in an 11-3 win with two doubles, a home run, four RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. In Saturday's 9-3 win, he batted 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base. In Sunday's 15-1 victory, he went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a grand slam, three runs scored, six RBI and a stolen base. All six of his RBI came in a 10-run seventh inning on a two-run double and a grand slam.
BYNUM DOMINATES
Junior LHP Mike Bynum has dominated opposing hitters thus far this season, posting a record of 3-0 and a 2.38 ERA. He has allowed six earned runs in 22.2 innings while striking out 22 and walking 10.
HOT START FOR HOOPER
After two seasons as Carolina's starting third baseman, junior Clay Hooper is the Tar Heels' everyday shortstop in 1999. He got the new season off to a hot start by batting .400 (4-for-10) with a home run, two doubles and six RBI in UNC's three wins at the Winn-Dixie Shootout Feb. 12-14. Hooper hit a grand slam in the Feb. 12 win over East Carolina. Overall this season, Hooper is fourth among Tar Heel regulars with a .372 batting average, is tied for the team lead with two home runs and is third on the team with 12 RBI. Hooper started at third base for Carolina in both the 1996 and 1997 seasons before redshirting the 1998 campaign.
MOYLAN A HIT IN LEADOFF SPOT
Sophomore catcher doesn't have the speed of the typical leadoff hitter, but he has gotten the job done with a flair for the Tar Heels since the middle of last season. Moylan became Carolina's leadoff hitter Apr. 15, 1998 and batted .398 (33-for-83) with eight home runs, 28 runs scored and 23 RBI in the final 21 games of last season. This year, Moylan is second among Tar Heels with a .405 batting average and leads the team with 21 walks and eight stolen bases. Moylan has thrown out seven of nine runners attempting to steal against him this season.
LAMARSH'S BATTING EYE
Senior Chris LaMarsh leads Carolina in batting average this season with a .455 mark. He is also second on the team with 15 walks and has struck out just three times. LaMarsh had more walks than strikeouts in both 1997 and 1998 and was named second-team All-ACC in '98 at DH.
PITCHING SPARKLES IN SWEEP AT WINN-DIXIE SHOOTOUT
Carolina's pitching staff compiled a 2.33 ERA in three wins at the Winn-Dixie Shootout in Charleston, S.C., Feb. 12-14. Starters Kyle Snyder, Mike Bynum and Corey Richardson each pitched at least 6.0 strong innings and earned wins. The Tar Heel defense, which turned five double plays on the weekend, was also strong to begin the 1999 campaign. 3B/P Ryan Earey (HR, 3 RBI, 1 save), SS Clay Hooper (.400, grand slam, 6 RBI, 2 doubles) and C Dan Moylan (.500, 2 SB) were all named to the All-Shootout Team.
PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS FOR SNYDER, GODWIN
Junior RHP Kyle Snyder and sophomore OF Tyrell Godwin each received preseason All-America honors from Baseball America for 1999. Snyder, who was named the top college pitching prospect in the nation and third-best prospect overall by the magazine, was named a preseason First-Team All-America. Godwin was named a preseason Third-Team All-America in the outfield despite being just a part-time starter last year.
BASEBALL AMERICA PRESEASON ACC ACCOLADES
In its College Preview issue, Baseball America bestowed ACC several honors on Tar Heel players:
Kyle Snyder (#1 prospect for 1999 draft, Pitcher of the Year, first-team All-ACC, best fastball)
Jarrett Shearin (first-team All-ACC, outfielder/best arm)
Mike Bynum (#9 prospect for 1999 draft)
Ryan Snare (#5 prospect for 2000 draft)
Dan Moylan (best defensive catcher)
Tyrell Godwin (#2 prospect for 2000 draft, fastest baserunner)
Derrick DePriest (first-team All-ACC)
1999 HONOR ROLL
The following Tar Heels have earned the following accolades this season:
Ryan Earey (All-Winn Dixie Shootout Team)
Clay Hooper (All-Winn Dixie Shootout Team)
Dan Moylan (All-Winn Dixie Shootout Team)
Tyrell Godwin (ACC Co-Player of the Week, Feb. 22)
