University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
9-1-1
Le Moyne
0-7
Heels Bring Friday Night Fireworks In Series-Opening Win Over Le Moyne
February 27, 2026 | Baseball
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The Tar Heels (9-1-1) were both patient and powerful at the plate in route to their fifth mercy rule win in their first 11 games. It took the program until mid-April of 2025 to pick up their fifth such victory.
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The game's highlights will feature home runs from Gavin Gallaher and Cooper Nicholson along with a triple off the wall from Colin Hynek. But the box score also includes a season-high 10 walks to just five strikeouts for a selective Carolina lineup.
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The UNC offense wasted no time getting on the board, putting up five runs in the first. Nicholson got his day going by ripping a two-out bases clearing double to right center to rack up a trio of RBIs.
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Gallaher would follow that with a two-run homer in the second that extended the lead out to 7-3 after the Dolphins clawed a few runs back. It was an efficient day at the plate for the junior second baseman, who added three walks to his long ball to get on base in each plate appearance.
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Hynek's three bagger came in the bottom of the fourth, bringing in Macon Winslow, with a balk eventually bringing the Heels' designated hitter home as well. Hynek followed Gallaher's lead, reaching safely in all five of his at-bats with a double and three walks supporting his triple.
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A seven-run bottom of the fifth put the game to bed. A bases loaded single from Winslow immediately followed by doubles from Owen Hull and Hynek brought in five runs before Nicholson put the final nail in the coffin with a towering two-run shot to left field that made it 16-3.
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Four Tar Heels made their collegiate debuts in the win. Position players Jadyn Nunez and AJ Terry took their first ABs in Carolina blue while Jake Cackovic and Riley Leatherman each got an inning of work, combining for three strikeouts while allowing just one baserunner.
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Carolina comes back for game two of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. Coverage will be live on ACCNX with audio on GoHeels.com.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DeCaro, Jason (3-0)
L: Petraitis, AJ (0-2)
Batting:
HR: Sullivan, Adam 1
RBI: Sullivan, Adam 1 ; Campbell, Tyler 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sullivan, Adam 2 ; Brozon, Isaac 1
CS: Cannon, Jack 1 ; Goodness, Paulie 1
Batting:
2B: Nicholson, Cooper 1 ; Hull, Owen 1 ; Hynek, Colin 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
3B: Hynek, Colin 1
HR: Nicholson, Cooper 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1
RBI: Nicholson, Cooper 5 ; Gallaher, Gavin 2 ; Winslow, Macon 1 ; Hull, Owen 3 ; Howe, Tyler 1 ; Hynek, Colin 3
SF: Hull, Owen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nicholson, Cooper 1 ; Schaffner, Jake 2 ; Gallaher, Gavin 3 ; Winslow, Macon 3 ; Hull, Owen 1 ; Howe, Tyler 1 ; Hynek, Colin 3 ; Paulsen, Erik 2
SB: Schaffner, Jake 1 ; Hull, Owen 1
HBP: Winslow, Macon 1 ; French, Carter 1
