Heels Win Convincingly On Opening Day

Friday, February 13

Chapel Hill

4 PM

North Carolina

1-0

Indiana

0-1

Indiana

North Carolina

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

February 13, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery II Photo Gallery

By: William Soulé

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina baseball rode effective work on the mound and at the plate to hit the ground running in the 2026 season, beating Indiana 9-4 on opening day in Boshamer Stadium.

The Tar Heels (1-0) used a pair of big scoring innings in the fifth (three runs) and sixth (six runs) to break open a game that started as a pitcher's duel with both starting pitchers combining to allow just three hits. Carolina officially takes a 1-0 lead in the all-time series between the two programs after winning their first ever contest.

Veteran starter Jason DeCaro lead the way for the Heels. As the offense needed a few innings to warm up with eight of the nine starters playing their first game in Carolina blue, Decaro was his reliable self from the first pitch. Across his 5.0 innings, he allowed just two hits, gave up no runs, and racked up seven strikeouts.

The season's first RBI belongs to newcomer Jake Scaffner on a sac fly to left, but the first big crowd pop in the Bosh belongs to none other than Gavin Gallaher. The consensus pre-season All-American showed his mettle with a two RBI triple in the next at-bat after Schaffner started the scoring. It's the second three-bagger of Gallaher's career.

The sixth inning was the truly decisive one in this contest for Carolina. The Hoosiers pulled one run back to cut the UNC lead to two in the top half, but six runs in the home half effectively put the game away.

An Indiana error and some good baserunning got the ball rolling before true freshman Tyler Howe picked up his first career hit with an RBI double. The next two batters picked up right there as Colin Hynek smacked a two RBI double down the left field line before Schaffner got a triple of his own to left center.

Junior Boston Flannery carried the bulk of the work on the mound for the Tar Heels down the stretch, going 2.1 frames allowing just one hit. It was the longest career outing for the junior from New City, N.Y., who has been praised by his coaches all offseason for the work he has put in to improve his game.

The Heels will return to Boshamer Stadium for a Saturday, Valentine's Day doubleheader against the Hoosiers. First pitch of the second game of the series is set for 12:00 p.m. ET with coverage all day coming on ACCNX.