University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
UNCW
Diamond Heels Open Five-Game Homestand Against UNCW
March 18, 2024 | Baseball
The Tar Heels will host Georgia Tech in a three-game ACC series starting Friday before closing the homestand against North Carolina A&T on March 26.
UNC is 15-0 at Boshamer Stadium this season and has won 19 consecutive games at home. The Tar Heels have won 20 or more straight home games five times, with its longest streak ending at 26 games over two seasons between 1980-81 and 2017-18.
Carolina is coming off an 18-6 win over Miami on Sunday. Casey Cook hit two home runs, Gavin Gallaher belted a grand slam, and the Tar Heels launched seven home runs. Parks Harber, Alex Madera, Alberto Osuna, and Luke Stevenson also homered.
Pitching Matchups
| Tuesday | 6 ET (ACCNX) | |
|---|---|
| UNCW | LHPÂ Cyle Phelan (0-2, 8.25 ERA) |
| Carolina | RHP Olin Johnson (0-0, 4.70 ERA) |
| Links | WATCH | LISTEN | STATS |
IN THE POLLS
Despite the series loss at Miami over the weekend, North Carolina remains ranked inside the top 25 of all five major polls, peaking at No. 17 in the NCBWA and USA Today Sports Coaches polls. D1 Baseball ranked the Tar Heels No. 20 this week.
THE SERIES
UNC has won six in a row over the Seahawks and leads the all-time series 64-16. The Tar Heels are 39-8 all-time at Boshamer Stadium against UNCW. Carolina is scheduled to return to Wilmington on May 14 for its final non-conference game.
HOT IN SOUTH BEACH
Gallaher went 7-for-10 in the final two games of the Miami series with six RBIs and batted .600 (9-for-15) in five games last week. In the middle game of the Miami series, Gallaher recorded his first multi-hit game of the year with three hits and followed up that performance with his first four-hit game on Sunday, which included his first career grand slam. Gallaher made three starts in left field last week.
MATTHIJS FOR THE WIN
Sophomore Matthew Matthijs leads the nation in victories with eight and ranks second in appearances with 12, the most in the ACC. He earned his eighth win of the season Sunday at Miami as the first reliever out of the bullpen in the fourth inning. In five of his wins, Matthijs entered the game with it tied or the Tar Heels trailing, with UNC taking the lead while he was in the game.
HOME RUN PARTY
After hitting just one home run in the previous five games, the Tar Heel erupted for seven in the series finale against Miami, with six players leaving the yard. Cook recorded his career's first multi-home run game, going deep in consecutive at-bats in the sixth and seventh. Gallaher hit his first career grand slam. Harber and Madera each hit a two-run homer, while Osuna and Stevenson added a solo shot. It was the first time UNC had hit seven home runs in a game since 2013 against Wake Forest when it belted eight home runs.
RUNS IN BUNCHES
The Tar Heels have scored double-digit runs in nine of 21 games this season and have scored four or more runs in an inning 15 times. Carolina has scored over 15 runs in three games, including 18 against Miami on Sunday, the most it had ever scored against the Hurricanes.
RUN PRODUCER
Cook has driven in a career-best 33 runs through the first 22 games after collecting 23 RBIs in 60 games a year ago. He ranks fifth nationally in RBIs and second in the ACC, one behind NC State's Alec Makarewicz. Cook has 34 hits on the season, which ranks 10th in Division I and third in the conference.
