Boshamer Stadium was the place to be on Friday night if you’re a college baseball fan.
“The Bosh,” which UNC baseball fans more typically call it, was sold out for Game 1 of the now-annual UNC-ECU rivalry. There was some concern that rain earlier on Friday might further delay or cancel the already-pushed-back 5 p.m. ET first pitch, but Mother Nature was in a good mood.
Just like all three matchups last year, the Diamond Heels grabbed a lead first – this time on an Alex Madera double in the second inning. ECU tied things up three innings later on Jacob Jenkins-Cowart’s RBI double, only for Vance Honeycutt to give North Carolina the lead for good with his clutch, eighth-inning shot.
Matt Poston entered before the ninth and largely controlled the Pirates, striking out two while allowing just one walk for his first save. UNC took tonight’s edition, 2-1, winning its fifth-straight game to start the young campaign.
Not only did the Diamond Heels’ victory give them an early leg up in the rivalry series, but it also put them in an exclusive club – one of just eight college baseball programs to reach 3,000 wins.
That's 3000 wins in program history. Eighth program in NCAA history to reach the milestone. pic.twitter.com/SsKgA8SeU4
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) February 24, 2024
North Carolina joins all-time wins leader Fordham University, Texas, Stanford, Michigan, Florida State, USC and Arizona State in the 3,000-win club
The Tar Heels have been the ACC’s most consistent program, despite not winning a College World Series. They’ve made the NCAA Tournament 35 times, appeared in the CWS 11 times and finished runner-up twice – both times to Oregon State.
Even though UNC will turn right back around and play ECU Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, I hope the Diamond Heels are able to celebrate a bit tonight.
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