Diamond Heels Take Both Games Of Opening Day Doubleheader

Friday, February 14

Chapel Hill, N.C.

12 PM

North Carolina

1-0

Texas Tech

0-1

Texas Tech

North Carolina

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

February 14, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score GM2 Game I Photo Gallery Game II Photo Gallery Photo Gallery

By: William Soule

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina baseball got impressive performances throughout the roster in route to picking up two wins on Opening Day against Texas Tech on Friday.

Forced to move around their series against the Red Raiders due to weather concerns, the Tar Heels (2-0, 0-0 ACC) were unphased and never looked like losing either leg of the double header. It is the first time the program has won two games on opening day dating back to at least 1928.

Game 1
Carolina wasted no time getting things going in the first half of the double header. UNC scored in each of the first four innings to build a lead the pitching staff wouldn't relinquish.

Faces old and new got things started as transfer Sam Angelo brought around sophomore standout Luke Stevenson for the first run of the new season. Small ball RBIs from Hunter Stokely, Tyson Bass, and Alex Madera grew the lead before Bass belted a double down the line in the bottom of the fourth to bring in Kepley for the fifth and final run of the game.

Speaking of sophomore standouts, starter Jason DeCaro wasted no time showing the mettle that made him a preseason All-American. In 5.0 innings pitched, he only allowed one hit (on his penultimate batter faced) and recorded six strikeouts. 50 of the 76 pitches he threw were for strikes.

Veteran arm Jake Knapp returned to the mound for the first time in 623 days and looked good in his return, registering three Ks in as many innings. Matthew Matthijs came in to close the game, a role he will frequent this season.

Game 2
The early stages of the matinee performance were a bit more back and forth. The Tar Heels took the lead in the first inning once again, this time off a Bass hit-and-run to score Kepley from second. Texas Tech tied the game in the next half frame before a Stokely double in the fourth brought in two.

The game was tied once again in the top of the fifth, but a three-run bottom half gave Carolina the lead for good. Senior Alex Madera singled home Rom Kellis and then drew a pickoff attempt that sailed wide to score Angelo.

The highlights from the pitching staff in this one came in the form of a debut and yet another triumphant return. True freshman Walker McDuffie picked up the win in his first collegiate appearance after throwing 3.2 innings of one hit ball with five strikeouts. He was followed by sophomore Folger Boaz, who battled back from an injury sustained back in April of 2024. Boaz only needed 12 pitches to retire the side in the ninth and finish off the win for the Tar Heels.

Carolina is scheduled to play the third game of this series at noon on Saturday, Feb. 15. Follow GoHeels.com and @DiamondHeels on Twitter for updates as weather complications are expected.