University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Baseball Opens Homestand With Gardner-Webb
April 22, 2024 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina opens a 10-game homestand against Gardner-Webb at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23. The contest precedes a return to Atlantic Coast Conference play later this week with a three-game series against Virginia Tech beginning Friday.
Before the exam break, the homestand continues with midweek games against Charlotte (April 30) and William & Mary (May 1). The Tar Heels return to Boshamer Stadium on May 7 against Campbell and close out their home schedule in a three-game series against Louisville on Mother's Day weekend (May 10-12).
UNC (30-10) is coming off a 14-3 win over NC State on Saturday, and Gardner-Webb (15-24) enters Tuesday's game after a doubleheader sweep of Longwood on Saturday.
The Tar Heels are 23-1 at home this season, and the Runnin' Bulldogs are 3-11 on the road.
North Carolina has won four straight against Gardner-Webb and leads the all-time series 18-2.
PITCHING MATCHUP
POLL POSITION
UNC remains among the top 15 in all five polls this week. The Tar Heels peaked at No. 12 in the Baseball America rankings and were slotted at No. 14 in the NCBWA and USA Today Sports Coaches polls. D1 Baseball and Perfect Game ranked Carolina No. 15.
SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB
Gardner-Webb is 15-24 overall and 5-10 in the Big South. The Runnin' Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing streak with a doubleheader sweep of Longwood on Saturday. They have a team slash line of .254/.360/.401 with 38 home runs and an average of 4.9 runs per game, accompanied by a team ERA of 6.40.
MIDWEEK MATCHUPS
North Carolina is 8-2 in midweek games this season, including a 7-1 record at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels' slash line is .340/.445/.490 in midweek games. They average 8.3 runs per game and have an ERA of 3.17. Four of their midweek games have been decided by one run (2-2) and four others by five or more runs (4-0).
ACC LEADERS
Vance Honeycutt leads the ACC with 56 runs scored, Anthony Donofrio has a conference-best five triples, and Shea Sprague has the league's lowest walks-per-nine-inning rate (1.44). Matthew Matthijs continues to lead the ACC and NCAA in victories with 11, while his 23 pitching appearances are tops in the conference.
RECORD CHASING
Honeycutt is five home runs shy of setting the program record for career home runs. Devy Bell hit 57 home runs from 1984-87. Honeycutt has belted 53 home runs entering play Tuesday.
HOMERING HEELS
Carolina has hit 55 home runs in the last 20 games after hitting 21 home runs in the first 20 games. The Tar Heels belted 10 home runs in their three-game series with NC State over the weekend and are tied for the ACC lead with 76 dingers, ranking 11th nationally. Honeycutt leads the Tar Heels with 16 homers, followed by Parks Harber (14), Casey Cook (12), Alberto Osuna (11), and Luke Stevenson (10).
POWER & SPEED
Donofrio is one of eight players nationally since the start of the 2022 season to hit 25 home runs and steal 60 bases. Donofrio is three home runs shy of becoming part of the 30-60 club during that time frame. Honeycutt is the only 50-60 player on the list and is one of only two NCAA Division I players with 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season. He has hit 16 homers and swiped 20 bases. Utah Valley State's Daniel Dickerson has hit 15 dingers and stolen 25 bases.
Before the exam break, the homestand continues with midweek games against Charlotte (April 30) and William & Mary (May 1). The Tar Heels return to Boshamer Stadium on May 7 against Campbell and close out their home schedule in a three-game series against Louisville on Mother's Day weekend (May 10-12).
UNC (30-10) is coming off a 14-3 win over NC State on Saturday, and Gardner-Webb (15-24) enters Tuesday's game after a doubleheader sweep of Longwood on Saturday.
The Tar Heels are 23-1 at home this season, and the Runnin' Bulldogs are 3-11 on the road.
North Carolina has won four straight against Gardner-Webb and leads the all-time series 18-2.
PITCHING MATCHUP
| Tuesday | 6 ET (ACCNX) | |
|---|---|
| Gardner-Webb | LHP Reid Bertram (1-0, 4.60 ERA) |
| Carolina | RHP Cameron Padgett (0-0, 7.07 ERA) |
| Links | WATCH | LISTEN | STATS |
POLL POSITION
UNC remains among the top 15 in all five polls this week. The Tar Heels peaked at No. 12 in the Baseball America rankings and were slotted at No. 14 in the NCBWA and USA Today Sports Coaches polls. D1 Baseball and Perfect Game ranked Carolina No. 15.
SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB
Gardner-Webb is 15-24 overall and 5-10 in the Big South. The Runnin' Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing streak with a doubleheader sweep of Longwood on Saturday. They have a team slash line of .254/.360/.401 with 38 home runs and an average of 4.9 runs per game, accompanied by a team ERA of 6.40.
MIDWEEK MATCHUPS
North Carolina is 8-2 in midweek games this season, including a 7-1 record at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels' slash line is .340/.445/.490 in midweek games. They average 8.3 runs per game and have an ERA of 3.17. Four of their midweek games have been decided by one run (2-2) and four others by five or more runs (4-0).
ACC LEADERS
Vance Honeycutt leads the ACC with 56 runs scored, Anthony Donofrio has a conference-best five triples, and Shea Sprague has the league's lowest walks-per-nine-inning rate (1.44). Matthew Matthijs continues to lead the ACC and NCAA in victories with 11, while his 23 pitching appearances are tops in the conference.
RECORD CHASING
Honeycutt is five home runs shy of setting the program record for career home runs. Devy Bell hit 57 home runs from 1984-87. Honeycutt has belted 53 home runs entering play Tuesday.
HOMERING HEELS
Carolina has hit 55 home runs in the last 20 games after hitting 21 home runs in the first 20 games. The Tar Heels belted 10 home runs in their three-game series with NC State over the weekend and are tied for the ACC lead with 76 dingers, ranking 11th nationally. Honeycutt leads the Tar Heels with 16 homers, followed by Parks Harber (14), Casey Cook (12), Alberto Osuna (11), and Luke Stevenson (10).
POWER & SPEED
Donofrio is one of eight players nationally since the start of the 2022 season to hit 25 home runs and steal 60 bases. Donofrio is three home runs shy of becoming part of the 30-60 club during that time frame. Honeycutt is the only 50-60 player on the list and is one of only two NCAA Division I players with 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases this season. He has hit 16 homers and swiped 20 bases. Utah Valley State's Daniel Dickerson has hit 15 dingers and stolen 25 bases.
Players Mentioned
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