Baseball Falls In Game One Against Clemson, 9-5

Friday, April 10

Clemson, S.C.

6 PM

North Carolina

28-6-1, 11-5

Clemson

23-12, 5-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Carolina	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	2	5	10	2
Clemson	0	0	1	0	4	2	2	0	X	9	13	0

April 10, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

By: William Soulé

CLEMSON, S.C. – Carolina baseball dropped their series opener on the road against Clemson 9-5 on Friday night at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.

The No. 6 Tar Heels (28-6-1, 11-5 ACC) found themselves in a tight, tied contest until the Tigers blew the game open in the middle innings. Eight runs across from the fifth through seventh put the game out of reach despite a late push from UNC.

Timely hitting has been a calling card for Carolina this season, but it didn't come to fruition on this particular occasion. UNC left 11 runners on base and only hit 2-10 with runners in scoring position.

Opportunities were aplenty for the Heels at the plate, reaching double digit hits for the 20^th time this season, but the full breakthrough never came. The team finished 0-4 with the bases loaded.

One of those opportunities was how Carolina scored the game's first run. With the bases juiced and no one out, Macon Winslow ground into a double play that would score Jake Schaffner. It would be five unanswered from there for Clemson before an Owen Hull single scored Winslow to cut the run.

Carolina fought for some momentum back late through home runs from Schaffner and Colin Hynek in the eighth and ninth respectively, both to straight away center field. The duo lead the team in extra base hits and will need to keep up those efforts if the Heels are going to even the series.

Jason DeCaro (5-2) was handed his second loss of the season, finishing with a line of 4.1 IP, 3 strikeouts, four walks, and seven hits. Boston Flannery and Jake Cackovic were the most effective relieves for UNC, combining for 1.2 shutout innings with no hits allowed.

The Tar Heels will return to Kingsmore Stadium on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET looking to square up the weekend. Saturday's coverage will once again come on ACCNX and WCHL 97.9.