April 16, 1999
No. 15 North Carolina (30-8, 5-7 ACC) vs. Virginia (15-24, 5-9 ACC)
April 16-18, 1999
Chapel Hill, N.C.
NOTING THE TAR HEELS
Jarrett Shearin sits atop the Carolina record books in both career runs scored and career RBI, having become UNC's all-time leader in both categories this season. Entering the Virginia series, Shearin has 203 career runs and 201 career RBI. He is just the eighth player in ACC history to compile both 200 runs and 200 RBI. Shearin currently is tied for 17th in ACC history in career runs and is 14th in career RBI.
Lefthander Ryan Snare has not allowed an earned run in his last four appearances, including starts at N.C. State (Apr. 4) and at Maryland (Apr. 11). In the stretch, he has allowed eight hits in 18.0 innings while striking out 16. Snare has allowed five unearned runs during the stretch.
Tyrell Godwin leads Carolina in batting average, hits, RBI and triples. He is also second in stolen bases with an impressive 89.5 percent success rate (20-for-22). Godwin is batting .432 with runners on base this season, .500 with the bases loaded and .438 with runners in scoring position, all team highs. When leading off an inning this season, Godwin has reached base 56.3 percent of the time.
Righthander Derrick DePriest made his first start of the season Apr. 13 at Campbell and did not allow a run in 7.0 innings while striking out a career-high 11, picking up his fourth win of the year.
Righthander Kyle Snyder hopes to start Sunday's game with Virginia. He missed his start last weekend at Maryland because of triceps tendonitis in his pitching arm.
In Jarrett Shearin, Tyrell Godwin and Dan Moylan, Carolina has three of the top five base stealers in the ACC. In the latest league leaders (as of Apr. 15), Shearin led the ACC with 21 steals, Godwin ranked second with 20 and Moylan was tied for third with 15. As a team, Carolina led the ACC with 99 steals. Clemson ranked second with 73.
Derrick DePriest (3.9) and Kyle Snyder (3.2) both are averaging over 3.0 strikeouts per walk this season.
The Tar Heels ranked third in the ACC in team batting average (.326) and second in team ERA (3.40) in the latest conference statistics (as of Apr. 15).
Carolina's team ERA of 3.45 ranked 13th in the nation in the latest NCAA rankings (Apr. 12).
Carolina has won 35 consecutive non-conference home games, including a 16-0 mark this season after the win over UNC Charlotte on Apr. 14. 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.
Backup catcher Wes Reynolds is batting 16-for-38 (.421) with three home runs, five doubles and 14 RBI in his last 13 games entering the Virginia series.
Carolina has limited its opponnents to just 14 stolen bases in 37 attempts this season. Starting catcher Dan Moylan has thrown out 14 of 24 potential base-stealers this year. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels have stolen 99 bases in 124 attempts (77.2 percent).
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
Friday -- LHP Mike Bynum (Jr., Middleburg, Fla., 5-0, 2.73 ERA)
(last start: Apr. 9 at Maryland, ND, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K)
Saturday -- LHP Ryan Snare (So., Palm Harbor, Fla., 3-2, 2.66 ERA)
((last start: Apr. 10 at Maryland - game 1, W, 9.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K)
Sunday -- RHP Kyle Snyder (Jr., Sarasota, Fla., 6-2, 4.21 ERA)
((last start: Apr. 3 at N.C. State, ND, 5.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 4 K)
THE SERIES VERSUS VIRGINIA
Carolina leads the all-time series with Virginia, 149-82-4. The Tar Heels hold a 20-9 advantage in the series in the 1990s. Carolina holds a 10-2 advantage in the 1990s in games played in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels won two of three in Chapel Hill in 1997, swept three-game series in 1995 and 1993 and won two of three in 1991.
Last season, the Cavaliers won two of three games played between the two schools in Charlottesville, Va.
SHEARIN IS UNC'S ALL-TIME LEADER IN RBI, RUNS SCORED
Senior centerfielder Jarrett Shearin became Carolina's all-time leader in runs scored March 21 versus Wake Forest when he scored the 188th run of his career. The old record was B.J. Surhoff's total of 187 set from 1983-85. He also tied the school record with five runs versus Towson March 24.
Shearin became Carolina's all-time RBI leadeder on March 30 versus Elon, driving in two versus the Fightin' Christians and setting the record with a triple in the eighth inning.
Shearin has 203 runs scored (tied for 17th place in ACC history) and 201 RBI (14th place in ACC history) entering the Virginia series. Shearin is just the eighth player in ACC history to compile both 200 runs and 200 RBI in their career.
GODWIN ON A TEAR
Sophomore Tyrell Godwin is among Carolina's leaders in batting average (first, .393), RBI (first, 46), hits (first, 57), runs scored (fourth, 39), triples (first, 4) and stolen bases (second, 20).
After striking out 21 times in 83 at bats and walking just six times as a freshman last year, Godwin has 16 walks (tied for fourth on the team) and 19 strikeouts this season in 145 at-bats.
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 5-0 and a 2.73 ERA. His ERA ranks fifth in the ACC. Bynum has allowed 16 earned runs in 52.2 innings while striking out 51 and walking 21. Bynum is projected as a possible early-round pick in the 1999 Major League Amateur Draft in June. Baseball America cited Bynum as "the one lefthander [in college baseball] who has stepped forward" as a draft prospect this season.
ELMORE, EAREY COMBINE TO NO-HIT TOWSON
Junior LHP Chris Elmore and sophomore RHP/3B Ryan Earey combined to no-hit Towson on March 23, allowing just three baserunners in a 5-0 Tar Heel victory. According to school records, it was the first no-hitter by Carolina since Greg Norris no-hit East Tennessee State on Apr. 28, 1978. Elmore, making just his second start of the season, was perfect through 6.0 innings before hitting Towson leadoff hitter Nick Agoglia with a pitch and being removed from the game because he had reached his pitch count. Elmore struck out three and didn't allow a baserunner until hitting Agoglia. Earey pitched the final 3.0 innings to pick up his second save of the year, walking two and striking out three. Earey also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run home run.
UNC GETS OFF TO BEST START EVER THIS SEASON
Carolina got off to its best start ever this season, starting the season 22-2. UNC reached 20 wins this season faster than any season in its history, reaching the 20-win mark with a record of 20-2. The Tar Heels went 20-4 to start the 1990 season and eventually started the '90 season with a 26-4 mark, their best 30-game start ever.
The Tar Heels started the season 16-0, setting the school record for longest winning streak. The longest previous winning streak in school history was 14 games, accomplished during the 1960 season and twice during the 1990 season.
MOYLAN A HIT IN LEADOFF SPOT
Sophomore catcher Dan Moylan 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 has led off in every game and is batting .338. He leads the team with 45 walks and is third with 15 stolen bases, a figure that is tied for third in the ACC. Moylan has thrown out 14 of 24 runners attempting to steal against him this season.
SNYDER A TOP PROSPECT
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 been dominant at times, striking out 63 and walking 20 with an ERA of 4.21. He won his first six starts but has lost his last two decisions, dropping games to Wake Forest on March 19 and Florida State on March 26. Snyder was named a preseason first-team All-America by Baseball America.
In his March 7 column in the Boston Globe, ESPN baseball analyst Peter Gammons projected Snyder as the second overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft to the Florida Marlins behind USC catcher Eric Munson. Gammons described Snyder as "a monster" on the mound "who scouts like better than recent overall No. 1s Paul Wilson and Kris Benson."
Snyder did not pitch in the series at Maryland because of triceps tendonitis in his pitching arm. He is expected to start Sunday's game against Virginia.
HOOPER FITS RIGHT IN AT SHORTSTOP
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 batting .333 batting average and is tied for third on the team with four home runs. He has started 36 games at shortstop and one game at third base. Hooper started at third base for Carolina in both the 1996 and 1997 seasons before redshirting the 1998 campaign.
LAMARSH'S BATTING EYE
Senior infielder Chris LaMarsh is second among Tar Heels in batting average this season with a .370 mark and leads the team with 12 doubles. He is also second on the team with 41 walks and has struck out 24 times. LaMarsh had more walks than strikeouts in both 1997 and 1998 and was named second-team All-ACC in '98 at DH. This year, he has started games at DH, second base and third base.
TAR HEELS EARN HIGHEST BASEBALL AMERICA POLL RANKING EVER
Carolina a ranking of No. 3 in the nation in the Baseball America Top 25 polls dated March 15 and 22. That is UNC's highest ranking ever in the Baseball America poll. UNC's highest previous ranking was No. 4 in the first three polls of the 1984 season, when the Tar Heels were led by future Major Leaguers B.J. Surhoff, Walt Weiss and Scott Bankhead.
Carolina is ranked No. 8 in this week's Collegiate Baseball poll, No. 9 in this week's Baseball America poll and No. 11 in this week's USA Today Baseball Weekly Coaches poll.
The Tar Heels moved into the Top 10 on Feb. 15. Prior to this season, the last time Carolina had earned a top-10 ranking in any poll was 1989 and the last time it had earned a top-10 ranking in the Baseball America poll was 1985.
TAR HEELS WIN PEPSI/JOHNNY QUIK CLASSIC IN FRESNO
Led by tournament MVP Kyle Snyder, Carolina posted a 5-1 record and captured the championship of the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic in Fresno, Calif., March 8-13. Snyder picked up two wins at the tournament, striking out 18 batters, walking just three and giving up three earned runs in 14.1 innings of work (1.91 ERA).
The Tar Heels won their first four games at the tournament over New Mexico, Navy, Portland and Penn before losing their first game of the season versus host Fresno State on March 12. Carolina played Fresno State again the next night, however, and downed the Bulldogs, 8-5, as Snyder struck out 11 and gave up zero earned runs in 8.0 innings.
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.
HEAD COACH MIKE FOX
Carolina head coach Mike Fox is in his first year as the head coach of his alma mater after 15 years as the head coach at N.C. Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount. He also served as Wesleyan's athletic director. Fox has a career record of 570-149-4. He led Wesleyan to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, eight Division III College World Series appearances and the 1989 NCAA Division III national championship. His teams posted 15 consecutive top-20 finishes in the national polls and won 11 Dixie Conference championships.
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 several conference honors on Tar Heel players in its ACC preview:
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
Tyrell Godwin: ACC Co-Player of the Week, Feb. 22
Clay Hooper: All-Winn Dixie Shootout Team
Dan Moylan: All-Winn Dixie Shootout Team
Kyle Snyder: MVP of Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic
