University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Welcomes North Florida For Final Non-Conference Series
February 27, 2014 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL --- No. 17 North Carolina starts its final non-conference weekend series when the Tar Heels host North Florida Friday at 3 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium. Carolina has won three in a row after a 12-1 thumping of Appalachian State on Tuesday, while the Ospreys are 4-3 after falling to No. 20 Florida Atlantic during the week, 2-1. Tickets are available at the Boshamer Stadium box office and at GoHeels.com.
At A Glance
Records: North Carolina 4-3, North Florida 4-3
Rankings: North Carolina is ranked No. 19 by Collegiate Baseball, No. 21 by the NCBWA, No. 17 by Perfect Game and No. 22 by Baseball America. North Florida is unranked.
Video: GoHeelsTV. A live stream will be available at GoHeels.com.
On The Web: GoHeels.com • Twitter: @DiamondHeels
North Carolina-North Florida Series History
• North Carolina is 2-0 all-time against North Florida.
• The only previous games in the series game in a two-game set in 2008. UNC won 9-2 and 11-5 over the Ospreys at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., to reach the 40-win mark. Six current MLB players featured in the series (Dustin Ackley, Kyle Seager, Tim Federowicz, Adam Warren, Matt Harvey and Rob Wooten) as well as current assistants Bryant Gaines and Mark Fleury.
Fox Nearing Carolina Milestone
• North Carolina head coach Mike Fox is nearing yet another milestone in his decorated coaching career. With two more wins, the 16th year skipper will have 700 victories since coming back to his alma mater in 1999.
• Fox is already a member of the prestigious 1,200-win club after the Tar Heels defeated UNC Wilmington, 10-0, on April 3 of last year.
• In addition to his 698 wins in 16 seasons at UNC, Fox won 539 games in 15 seasons as the head coach at North Carolina Wesleyan.
• Fox entered 2014 as the winningest active coach by percentage in the country, and his 1,233 overall wins ranked seventh among active coaches and 19th all-time. He ranks second in career wins at Carolina behind Mike Roberts' 780 from 1978-98. Legendary Tar Heel coach Walter Rabb ranks third with his 540 wins from 1947-77.
Fresh Faces Seeing Major Time Early
• Eight true freshmen made their collegiate debuts in the opening series at the College of Charleston, with a high of six freshmen starting the series finale.
• C Adrian Chacon, 1B Joe Dudek, 2B Wood Myers and RF Tyler Ramirez started all three games at Charleston, while DH Adam Pate and starting RHP Zac Gallen started the finale on Feb. 17.
• A pair of relief pitchers also debuted at Charleston as RHP Spencer Trayner and LHP Zach Rice both appeared out of the bullpen. Trayner got his first career win Sunday against Xavier with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
• Gallen's first two starts have been outstanding, as the Gibbsboro, N.J., product has allowed just two earned runs in 13.1 innings of work.
• A.J. Bogucki made his first appearance as a Tar Heel on Tuesday, pitching a scoreless ninth against Appalachian State and striking out a pair.
Thornton Picks Up Where He Left Off
• Sophomore RHP Trent Thornton spent much of 2013 in the bullpen before returning to start in a win over LSU in the College World Series. Now in his second season at Carolina, Thornton has been called upon to make the move to full-time starter.
• Thornton was spectacular in his 2014 debut at Charleston on Feb. 16. The Charlotte, N.C., standout struck out a career-high 10 batters and walked none in 6.0 innings.
• Thornton was in control throughout the game, allowing no hits through four innings and going to a 3-ball count just once in 23 batters faced.
• He got his second win in as many starts Saturday against Xavier, striking out six and allowing just one run on five hits in 6.2 innings. For the season, Thornton is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 IP, and opponents are hitting just .167 against him.
Moss Again Ready For Key Weekend Role
• Junior RHP Benton Moss has been a consistent performer in the Tar Heel rotation throughout his time at Carolina.
• Moss allowed just three earned runs in 5.2 innings in his 2014 debut against Charleston. The Enfield, N.C., native left the game with a 4-2 but the Carolina bullpen was unable to hold the lead.
• Moss walked just two batters and struck out five, giving Carolina starters 18 Ks against just four walks over 18.1 innings last weekend.
• In his first home start of 2014, Moss allowed just two runs on six hits in 7.1 innings against Xavier but was saddled with a hard-luck loss.
