DeCaro Pitches Diamond Heels To Win Over VCU

Tuesday, February 27

Chapel Hill

4 p.m.

North Carolina

6-2

VCU

4-4

VCU

North Carolina

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

February 27, 2024 | Baseball

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By: UNC Athletics Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Freshman Jason DeCaro pitched six strong innings to lead No. 17 North Carolina to an 8-2 win over VCU Tuesday night at Boshamer Stadium for its 10th consecutive home victory.

"He was phenomenal," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "He worked hard with Coach [Bryant] Gaines this week to command the zone and not try to be so fine. He's going to be so much fun to watch here at UNC."

DeCaro (1-0) retired the first 14 men he faced before issuing a walk to Eli Weisner with two outs in the fifth but promptly got Ethan Iannuzzi to fly out to end the inning.

"I was able to throw my fastball where I wanted," DeCaro explained. "I was just going after guys, and I was able to get ahead, and that really helped me out."

Cooper Benzin ended the no-hit bid with a lead-off single to start the sixth.

DeCaro struck out three batters and allowed one run on three hits. Cameron Padgett tossed a scoreless seventh, Francesco Capocci struck out three in the eighth, and Connor Bovair fanned two of the three men he faced in the ninth.

"Jason DeCaro's got some of the best stuff, if not the best stuff on the team," UNC freshman catcher Luke Stevenson said. "He's got a four-pitch mix, and he can throw whatever and wherever he wants, no matter the count. Tonight, he went out and executed."

Stevenson led a 13-hit attack by going 3-for-3 with a triple and RBI. Casey Cook, Alex Madera, and Colby Wilkerson had two hits, and Anthony Donofrio drove in a pair of runs.

The first three Tar Heels reached base to start the game, and Donofrio doubled to right to plate Madera and Vance Honeycutt ahead of Cook, who scored on a fielding error before Donofrio sprinted home on an errant throw by catcher Nic Ericsson, trying to throw out Donofrio at third base.

"[Donofrio] is an aggressive player and I love coaching him," Forbes said. "He's a gifted kid. He doesn't take a day off; he plays hard until the game is over; we're lucky he's here."

Gavin Gallaher scored a run in the third and fourth innings, coming home on a double play ball in the third, then racing home from first base on Stevenson's triple in the fourth.

Cook tripled into the right field corner in the fourth to easily plate Honeycutt. Alberto Osuna drove Cook home with a base hit to give UNC (6-2) an 8-0 lead.

VCU (4-4) scored its first run of the game in the sixth, getting a two-out RBI single from Aden Hill, and then again in the eighth when Hill trotted home on a double Chris McHugh.

The Tar Heels return to action Wednesday, Feb. 28, against Longwood at Boshamer Stadium. The game has been moved to a 2 p.m. start due to the inclement weather forecast later in the afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
B1 – Donofrio hit a bases loaded double to plate four runs as Madera and Honeycutt scored on the hit. Cook took advantage of a bobble by the right fielder to beat the throw home, and Donofrio raced around the bases as the catcher sailed a throw to catch him at third base into left field to clear the bases (UNC, 4-0).
B3 – Gallaher scored on a double play ground ball (UNC, 5-0).
B4 – Gallaher scored on an RBI-triple off the center field wall by Stevenson (W, 6-0).
B5 – Honeycutt raced home on a triple into the right field corner by Cook, who scored on a hit back through the box by Osuna (UNC, 8-0).
T6 – Benzin scored on a single to center by Hill (UNC, 8-1).
T8 – Hill scored on a double to center by McHugh (UNC, 8-2).

NOTABLES:
• UNC won its fifth straight game over VCU and improved to 26-7 all-time against the Rams.
• Stevenson recorded the first triple and three-hit game of his career.
• Cook registered the second triple of his career. He also had a three-base hit in the Tar Heels' win over Miami last season.
• Osuna made his first start at first base this season and third of his career (March 1, 2023 vs. VCU; March 7, 2023 vs. Western Carolina)