Baseball Bounces Back For Win Over Boston College, 5-2

Friday, April 3

Chapel Hill

5 PM

North Carolina

26-5-1, 10-4

Boston College

22-10, 9-5

Boston College

North Carolina

Photo by: Isabel Swindall

April 3, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

By: William Soulé

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina baseball rebounded from a slow series opener with a controlled 5-2 victory over No. 22 Boston College on Friday night to set up a rubber match on Saturday in Boshamer Stadium.

The No. 6 Tar Heels (26-5-1, 10-4 ACC) jumped on the Eagles early to make sure they were in the driver's seat as they looked to even the series. The immediate production supported elite work on the mound from the Carolina pitching staff that continues to be the backbone of the team's success.

The terrifying trio of Jason DeCaro, Caden Glauber, and Walker McDuffie held Boston College without a hit until 7.2 innings of this game had already been thrown. The three total hits allowed is the second fewest by the Heels this season and adds to a tally of 15 games of the 32 played that the team has allowed five or fewer.

DeCaro, who came into the game dealing with an illness, thew a hitless 2.2 innings before being relieved by Glauber. The freshman, who this week earned midseason Freshman All-American and Freshman of the Year Watch List honors, showed why he's quickly become one of the nation's best young arms.

The young flamethrower threw new career highs in innings (5.1) and pitch count (97) as he recorded five strikeouts with just two hits and one run allowed. He improved to 3-0 as his ERA dropped down to a team best 2.00 (min. 1.0 IP/G).

A former freshman phenom himself turned sophomore stud, McDuffie entered in the ninth to put the game away. He would strike out the final two Boston College hitters and earn his first save of the season.

Offensively, Carolina's one and two hole hitters led the way as Jake Schaffner and Gavin Gallaher produced three RBIs in the opening two frames. It was Gallaher who got things started with a solo shot in the first. The captain notched his team-high fourth go-ahead home run of the season and his second of the week after doing the same against Campbell on Tuesday.

Schaffner was the Heels' highest producer on the day. His first pop came via a triple down the right field line that put him back on top as the lone leader in the ACC with five triples on the year. He would strike again in the fifth with a leadoff double before eventually being brought around to score.

Carolina's one through eight hitters all contributed at least one hit on the day. Tyler Howe logged his first career game with multiple extra base hits with a pair of doubles.

The Tar Heels will return to Boshamer Stadium on Saturday for a high noon showdown with the Eagles to determine the series. Coverage led by Matt Krause and Wayne McDonnell will once again be held on ACCNX.