North Carolina
9-0
NC A&T
2-4
Three Homers Power Heels To Win Over NC A&T
February 26, 2025 | Baseball
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The Tar Heels (9-0, 0-0 ACC) finished off a five day stretch of games unblemished, marking their best start to a season since 2013 when they won 16. 13 runs on 13 hits were complimented by a stellar performance from Cameron Padgett out of the bullpen. The big righty threw 4.0 innings, gave up no runs, allowed only one hit and picked up his first win of the year.
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The true freshman Hargett was the big story of the night. Coming in for his debut in the fourth, the Peachland, N.C. product produced three hits, four RBIs, and two runs highlighted by an eighth inning three-run blast to left.
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Carolina got two more home runs on the day from sophomore studs Gallaher and Stevenson. It was easily the best day at the plate this season for Gallaher, who racked up three hits, two RBIs, two runs, and a walk in his five plate appearances. The Heels will hope it's a kickstart for a player that hit .314 with eight homers as a freshman in 2024.
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After not homering in their first five games, Carolina has now belted seven in their last four. Â
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Leadoff man Kane Kepley continues to dazzle at the top of the order, reaching on all five of his appearances today with two triples sandwiching a trio of walks. Anthony Donofrio was the last Tar Heel to claim two three-baggers in one game, doing so against Wake Forest on March 30, 2024.
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Kepley leads the team in OBP (.556), walks (14), and runs scored (11) this season. He is tied for the most triples of anyone in the country with three so far this year.
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The pitching staff continues to be a strength for the Tar Heels, with the group adding eight more strikeouts to a tally that came into the game as the 17th best Ks per nine in the country. Princeton transfer Tom Chmielewski made his first appearance in Carolina blue, coming in as the closer and punching out two in the ninth to finish the game.
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The Tar Heels will get one day off before returning to Boshamer Stadium for a weekend series against Stony Brook. Game one is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. ET.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Padgett, Cameron (1-0)
L: DUKE,Sean (0-1)
Batting:
HR: CAMPO,Jason 1
RBI: SMITH,Tyler 1 ; CAMPO,Jason 3
Base Running:
RUNS: SMITH,Tyler 1 ; WYCHE,Bruce 1 ; CAMPO,Jason 1 ; DICARLO,Nick 1
SB: JONES,AJ 1 ; DICARLO,Nick 1
HBP: JONES,AJ 1 ; DICARLO,Nick 1
Batting:
2B: Van De Brake, Jackson 1
3B: Kepley, Kane 2
HR: Stevenson, Luke 1 ; Hargett, Perry 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1
RBI: Kepley, Kane 1 ; Madera, Alex 1 ; Stevenson, Luke 2 ; Hargett, Perry 4 ; Van De Brake, Jackson 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 2
SF: Madera, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kepley, Kane 2 ; Madera, Alex 1 ; Stevenson, Luke 1 ; Stokely, Hunter 2 ; Kellis V, Rom 1 ; French, Carter 1 ; Hargett, Perry 2 ; Van De Brake, Jackson 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 2
SB: Kepley, Kane 1 ; Kellis V, Rom 1
