Whitley Benson

Position:
Right Handed Pitcher
Height:
6-1
Weight:
208
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Plymouth, NC
High School:
Plymouth

As a Junior (2003)
Led the team and tied for seventh in the ACC with a career-best four saves • Also finished third with 31 appearances • Posted a career-best 3.55 ERA, which was fourth on the squad • Compiled a 3-3 record • Struck out a season-high four batters in 1.2 innings to pick up his first save of the season against Monmouth (March 14) • Earned saves in key ACC wins over Florida State (March 29) and Maryland (April 13) • Also picked a save against Charlotte on April 1 • Earned his first win of the season against Ball State (March 11) • Allowed just one hit over 2.2 innings to pick up his third victory of the year in the ACC Tournament win over Florida State (May 23) • Also beat Virginia with 0.2 innings on May 16 • Made his only start of the season at NC State on April 27.

As a Sophomore (2002)
Finished second on the team in appearances (29) and saves (3) • Compiled a 2-1 record with a 3.99 ERA • Retired eight batters, all on strikeouts and picked up the save against Armstrong Atlantic on Feb. 23 at the Memorial Health Diamond Classic in Savannah, Ga. • Came back and recorded another save three days later against UNC Wilmington by pitching two perfect innings • Trailing 7-2, he got the final two outs in the top of the seventh inning on March 22 versus Florida State and was rewarded with a win as the Tar Heels scored nine runs in the bottom of the seventh for an amazing comeback victory • Made his first career start against in-state rival East Carolina on April 30 and was brilliant over six innings as he gave up no runs and scattered just five hits to pick up his second victory of the season • Pitched 6.1 total innings and allowed just two runs while striking out eight batters during three different games against eventual College World Series runner-up South Carolina at the NCAA Regional in Columbia. Summer 2002: A Cape Cod League all-star • Was 1-0 with a 1.37 ERA and 11 saves, second most in the league.

As a Freshman (2001)
Led the Tar Heels with 25 appearances, becoming the first freshman to lead UNC in that category since Thad Chrismon did so in 1992 • Was 3-2 with three saves • Ranked second on the team with a 4.07 ERA • Did not give up a run and earned one win and two saves in his first five outings • Was very impressive in gaining the save against Seton Hall on Feb. 24; struck out three over two complete innings in the 3-0 win over the Pirates • Gave up three runs on three hits over 2.0 innings, including two home runs, versus Appalachian State on March 7 but still credited with the victory, his second • Improved to 3-0 with a near-perfect appearance against Towson in the first game of the March 21 doubleheader • Entered the game with two outs and two runners on base in the sixth but ended the inning with a strikeout • Struck out six total and allowed just one walk in 4.1 otherwise spotless innings • Did not get a decision, but was terrific in his longest outing of the season, 4.2 scoreless innings against Duke on April 22; allowed just two hits, walked one and struck out two against the Blue Devils • Collected his third save the April 25 win over UNC Greensboro; entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh and retired the side without surrendering a run; struck out five batters in three innings of work against the Spartans • Summer 2001: Pitched for the Edenton Steamers of the Coastal Plain League • Went 3-9 in 12 starts with a 2.25 ERA • Had one shutout and three complete games in 84 innings pitched.

Plymouth High School
Played four years of baseball • Earned one varsity letter in football as a quarterback • An all-conference pick and team MVP all four years • Team captain as a junior and senior • Given team's pitching award all four years of high school • Named all-state as a junior and senior • Helped lead team to the conference championship as a senior • Plymouth's salutatorian • A National Honor Society member and a four-year scholar athlete.

Personal
Majoring in communication studies • Whitley Heath Benson is the son of William and Pam Benson • Born June 9, 1981 • Brother Billy played baseball at East Carolina (1995-98).