Tag: Dalton Pence

UNC star closer Dalton Pence delivers again…this time in College World Series debut

Few pitchers have been more dominant in the NCAA Tournament than UNC closer Dalton Pence.

Dalton Pence was a major reason the UNC baseball team got to the College World Series in the first place.

Pence, typically a closing pitcher, led North Carolina with eight saves in the regular season. He led all Diamond Heels pitchers in earned run average, which has since improved to 2.04 since the NCAA Tournament started.

Despite all his regular-season success, Pence started the postseason on a rocky note. He gave up two runs on two hits – across 1 1/3 innings – in UNC’s ACC Tournament-exiting loss against Wake Forest, then gave up two runs on two hits, this time through two innings, in North Carolina’s NCAA Tournament opener against Long Island University.

Since then, Pence has played nearly perfect baseball, giving up just three hits through 12 1/3 shutout innings.

Pence’s latest big outing came in the Diamond Heels’ 3-2, CWS-opening win over ACC rival Virginia on Friday, June 14, as he struck out two Cavaliers across 3 1/3 perfect innings.

If Pence is fatigued, he certainly doesn’t show it. He’s pitched in five of UNC’s seven NCAA Tournament games, going at least two innings in each outing, with today easily his best.

Not only has Pence been North Carolina’s best reliever in the postseason, but North Carolina’s best overall pitcher.

How long can Pence keep up his hot streak?

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Several Diamond Heels earn All-America Honors ahead of College World Series

How many UNC baseball players were named All-Americans on Wednesday?

There is talent sprinkled across the UNC baseball roster.

All of that talent helped North Carolina advance to it first College World Series appearance since 2018, as it looks for national title number one this season.

The Diamond Heels’ most recognizable name is Vance Honeycutt, the only player in ACC baseball history to make the 50-70 club. There’s also Casey Cook, Parks Harber, Alberto Osuna and Luke Stevenson, but those are only a few of many stars at the plate.

On the mound, UNC carries the likes of freshman ace Jason DeCaro, 12-game winner Matthew Matthijs and star closer Dalton Pence. These three are easily North Carolina’s best pitchers, but you don’t have to look far for more stars.

Speaking of talent, several Diamond Heels earned All-America honors ahead of their CWS opener on Friday, June 14 at 2 p.m. ET.

Honeycutt (First Team), Pence (Second Team), DeCaro (Freshman First Team), starting catcher Luke Stevenson (Freshman First Team) and starting third baseman Gavin Gallaher (Freshman Second Team) all nabbed Perfect Game All-America Honors on Wednesday afternoon.

Honeycutt (Second Team), Matthijs (Third Team) and starting UNC first baseman Parks Harber (Second Team) all NCBWA All-America Honors.

Honeycutt leads the Diamond Heels with 26 home runs and 28 stolen bases, Stevenson has a North Carolina-high 484 putouts behind the plate, Gallaher broke into the starting lineup and is fourth on UNC with a .337 batting average, while Harber leads the Diamond Heels with a .341 average and is one of two players with 60 RBIs (Honeycutt).

Pence carries a team-high 71 strikeouts into the CWS and, among qualified pitchers, a team-best 2.04 earned run average. DeCaro’s six wins are most amongst starters (and second on North Carolina), while Matthijs’ 12 victories lead UNC and has him tied for second in Division I.

Will the Diamond Heels’ All-Americans continue their superstar-level play in Omaha?

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

MVP Gavin Gallaher leads four Diamond Heels on Regional All-Tournament Team

Which four Diamond Heels made the Chapel Hill Regional All-Tournament Team?

With the UNC baseball team facing a shocking upset early in the Chapel Hill Regional on Friday night, starting third baseman Gavin Gallaher stepped up to the plate.

Gallaher and his Diamond Heel teammates trailed the LIU Sharks 8-7, but the bases were loaded with one out. On an 0-1 pitch from Justin DeCastro, Gallager blasted a grand slam over the netting in left field, sending Boshamer Stadium into a frenzy not many home games have rivaled.

Thanks to his overall performance in the Chapel Hill Regional – 5-for-17, seven RBIS and two home runs, Gallaher was named the Regionals’s Most Outstanding Player.

Several North Carolina teammates joined Gallaher on the All-Tournament Team – starting right fielder Anthony Donofrio, designated hitter Alberto Osuna and, to no one’s surprise, star closer Dalton Pence, who dominated on the mound in North Carolina’s come-from-behind, 4-3 victory over reigning national champion LSU on Monday, June 3 that advanced it into the Super Regionals.

Donofrio mashed a red-hot 9-for-17 with four RBIs, plus he scored two runs and made a couple game-saving plays in right field.

Osuna hit 5-for-17 with two RBIs, with his best game coming in the Regional Opener against LIU.

Pence hurled 8 1/3 innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing just two runs on three hits. He saved his best game for Monday night, striking out four Tigers and allowing just one hit – through 3 2/3 innings – on a season-high 63 pitches.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC star closer Dalton Pence was the biggest pitching factor in Monday night win

Dalton Pence kept pushing through in Monday night’s Chapel Hill Regional Final, helping deliver UNC an extremely exciting victory.

Before Monday night’s Chapel Hill Regional Final, UNC head baseball coach Scott Forbes said “all his horses would be ready to go.”

In this case, Forbes referred to his star-studded bullpen, which includes 12-game winner Matthew Matthijs and star closer Dalton Pence.

North Carolina ended up starting the game with freshman ace Jason DeCaro, who tossed two innings of 2-hit, 2-run ball, then turned to Matthijs for 4 1/3 innings. After giving up a go-ahead home run to Jared Jones in the third inning, Matthijs only allowed one hit the rest of his outing.

Pence, normally the Diamond Heels’ ninth inning, came into the game with one goal – limit LSU’s power-hitting lineup.

Pence did exactly that, hurling 3 2/3 innings while only allowing one hit and two walks, on a season-high 63 pitches. This included facing the likes of Jared Jones and Jake Brown, who homered for the Tigers earlier in the night.

It’s no surprise to Tar Heel Nation that UNC named Pence its Player of the Game.

Even with how well Pence pitched, it wouldn’t be a postseason baseball game without a little late-inning drama.

Pence quickly retired Tommy White and Steven Milam, then walked Jared Jones, who took second on a wild pitch. Josh Pearson, the possible final out, sent a deep fly ball to center field.

The ball looked like it could’ve gone out of Boshamer Stadium, but North Carolina star center fielder Vance Honeycutt made a great catch to send UNC onto the Super Regionals.

You can bet the Diamond Heels will call on Pence for more clutch situations in the Super Regionals.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Diamond Heels advance to Super Regionals, come back and beat reigning champs in extras

UNC and LSU provided the college baseball world with an instant classic during Monday night’s Chapel Hill Regional Final.

The UNC baseball team was three outs away from elimination in its own NCAA Tournament Regional on Monday night.

LSU’s bullpen was mowing through the Diamond Heels’ star-studded lineup, which included the powerful bats of Vance Honeycutt, Casey Cook and Parks Harber. North Carolina only managed two hits after the first inning, with both coming against star Tigers reliver Will Hellmers.

Tar Heel Nation hoped, but didn’t necessarily expect based on how Monday’s game went, for what happened in the ninth and 10th innings.

Colby Wilkerson drove in Friday night hero Gavin Gallaher to tie the game at three in the ninth inning, Alex Madera drove in pinch-runner Jackson Van De Brake during the 10th for the go-ahead run, then Dalton Pence – North Carolina’s star closer, baited LSU slugger Josh Pearson into a game-ending flyout that advanced UNC to the Super Regionals with a 4-3 victory.

The Diamond Heels will now host West Virginia, which went 3-0 in the Tuscon Regional, this coming weekend.

With North Carolina facing a 3-2 deficit in the top of the ninth (weird, we know), Gallaher found another clutch hit in his bat with a lead-off double. Madera then struck out by bunting a 1-2 pitch just foul, then Wilkerson worked his way back from an 0-2 count to drive in Gallaher.

Pence then worked around a Hayden Travinski single in the ninth, striking out Paxton Kling to end the Tigers’ threat.

Gage Jump, normally a starter for the Tigers, got two quick outs to start the 10th. UNC pinch-hitter Johnny Castagnozzi mashed a two-out pitch to right field, Jump intentionally walked Gallaher, then Madera drove in Van De Brake for the go-ahead run.

It wouldn’t be a Diamond Heels game without a little final-inning drama. Pence recorded two quick outs, walked Jared Jones, then Honeycutt caught a towering fly ball from Josh Pearson to send Chapel Hill into pandemonium.

On a night where North Carolina pitching excelled, it was the hitting that found a way to come through in crunch time.

As a result, UNC will be hosting a Super Regional for the second time in three years.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC pitchers enjoy much-needed Saturday bounceback against defending champs

Diamond Heel pitchers enjoyed quite the turnaround in Saturday’s Chapel Hill Regional nightcap.

The North Carolina Tar Heels’ unusually shaky bullpen nearly put them in the elimination bracket of their own regional Friday night.

Holding onto a 5-3 lead over Long Island University entering the eighth inning, UNC head coach Scott Forbes brought in star closer Dalton Pence to close things out.

LIU tied the game at five in the ninth, scoring two runs against Pence and opting Forbes to call for reliever Matt Poston. The Sharks took an 8-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth, striking fear and disbelief into the hearts of Tar Heel Nation.

Lucky for the Diamond Heels, their bats came alive in the home half of the ninth, with freshman Gavin Gallagher capping off a 6-run ninth inning by hitting a walk-off grand slam. With UNC now knowing it’d match up against LSU, one had to wonder if North Carolina’s pitching staff would hold up against a significantly stronger offense.

It certainly did.

On Saturday, June 1, a day after giving up eight runs to the now-eliminated NEC Champions, Diamond Heel pitchers allowed just two runs on seven hits. This was a crucial factor in UNC’s 6-2 victory, which advanced them to Sunday’s 6 p.m. Chapel Hill Regional Final.

Starter Shea Sprague’s outing lowered his earned run average to a team-best 3.76. Ben Peterson lowered his ERA to under 5.00, one of 11 North Carolina pitchers to do so, while Pence’s 2 2/3 no-hit innings solidified his back-of-the-bullpen spot.

The Diamond Heels will play either Wofford for the first time – or LSU again – on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Will the UNC pitching staff show up and push them into the Super Regional?

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions

Two Tar Heels named to Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List

The UNC baseball program has two Tar Heels named to the Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List, honoring the nation’s best relief pitcher.

Tar Heels [autotag]Matthew Mathijs[/autotag] and [autotag]Dalton Pence[/autotag] were two of 59 relief pitchers named to the Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List. 

Stopper of the Year is an award that honors the nation’s best relief pitcher, created by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Pence made the preseason watch list, while this was Mathij’s first appearance. 

Both Tar Heels have delivered key moments, contributing to UNC’s success. Mathijs has 40 innings pitched so far this season with a 3.60 ERA and a11-3 record. Meanwhile, Pence has pitched 36 innings, with a 1.75 ERA and four shy from his career high for strikeouts (50) in a season. 

The Tar Heels are an impressive 33-11 and only continue to climb the ranks as they sit 12th in the D1Baseball rankings. They’ve been extra special at home, hosting a 26-2 record at the Bosh. 

UNC also has the best conference record (17-7), leading the Coastal standings. The pitching pair will have good opportunities to further their case for the award, with notable teams like Louisville and Duke remaining on the schedule. 

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions

How did last year’s UNC-ECU baseball series pan out?

The UNC baseball team hosts ECU on Friday, Feb. 23 to begin a 3-game weekend series. This is a common, in-state rivalry matchup.

Despite no college baseball team from North Carolina winning the College World Series since 1955, the Tar Heel State has a plethora of talented programs who are regulars in the NCAA Tournament.

NC State came close to winning it in 2021, but lost in the semifinals.

The North Carolina Tar Heels might be its home state’s greatest program to never win a CWS title, despite reaching the CWS 11 times and the finals twice.

Another one of North Carolina’s top collegiate programs is East Carolina University, which has won the AAC (American Athletic Conference) regular-season title the past three years. ECU has reached the NCAA Tournament 33 times and won a regional on seven occasions, but has never reached the CWS.

If you haven’t guessed it already, the Diamond Heels and Pirates are facing off this weekend for a 3-game series. Game One will be Friday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. in Chapel Hill, Game Two will be Saturday in Fayetteville, NC and Game Three will be Sunday in Greenville.

These two baseball rivals have played every year since 2016, with the lone exception being the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Last year provided three exciting matchups, with each game being decided by one run.

Ahead of Friday’s highly-anticipated game, let’s quickly revisit last year’s matchups.

Pence slams the door on Elon comeback, Diamond Heels remain undefeated

A Casey Cook single and Dalton Pence shutdown inning proved to be the UNC baseball team’s difference-makers in Tuesday’s 8-7 win over Elon.

After coasting through Opening Weekend against Wagner, the UNC baseball team needed a challenge to test how good of a team it was.

North Carolina got that test on Tuesday afternoon against a pesky Elon squad, which was looking for a massive upset.

Even with a Vance Honeycutt grand slam, a trio of run-scoring singles and a Pheonix error, it was Diamond Heels reliever Dalton Pence who closed the door on a tight, 8-7 UNC victory.

Elon (1-3) knocked North Carolina reliever Aidan Haugh for two runs in the eighth, closing its deficit to what ended up being the final score. The Diamond Heels went to starter/reliever Connor Bovair to clean up the mess – he delivered with an 11-pitch, 1-hit scoreless eighth.

Pence came in to face the final two Phoenix batters and looked every part of a reliable closer, retiring both hitters and helping UNC escape with a key victory.

Outside of North Carolina’s 10-3 win over Wagner on Opening Day, pitching has been inconsistent through four games. Elon jumped on UNC pitchers early, taking a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning after a home run and two singles.

After recording just two hits over the weekend, Honeycutt put the Diamond Heels ahead for good with his fifth-inning grand slam. North Carolina wasn’t finished at the plate, with Casey Cook’s seventh-inning single proving to be the eventual game-winner.

UNC now sits 4-0 ahead of its weekend series against 11th-ranked East Carolina, with one game apiece in Chapel Hill, Greenville and neutral-site Fayetteville, NC. This will be a great, early-season measure to see how good the Diamond Heels truly are.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Two Tar Heel pitchers on Preseason Watch List

Dalton Pence and Matt Poston held down the UNC baseball team’s bullpen last year. They’re being recognized ahead of Opening Day.

Friday, Feb. 16 is a day that college baseball players have been dreaming of since the College World Series ended – Opening Day.

It’s the pinnacle of every player’s offseason work. They’ve spent countless hours in the weight room, throwing to teammates on the diamond and hitting in the cages.

The UNC baseball team will be hosting Wagner College for a 3-game weekend series, starting at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon. This will be the Tar Heels’ inaugural matchups with the Seahawks, who haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2000.

Ahead of Game 1, North Carolina received some exciting news.

Pitchers Dalton Pence and Matt Poston, both expected to be huge parts of Diamond Heels’ pitching staff, were named to the NCWBA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C3X_NK5O5MU/

Last year’s award winner was Oral Roberts pitcher Cade Denton, who became a sixth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Texas State’s Tristan Stivors won in 2022, while former Arkansas closer Kevin Kopps won it in 2021.

“Stopper” in baseball is slang for a pitcher who comes in and stops the batting team’s momentum. He is also known as an innings eater, meaning he’ll pitch most of a game in relief of the starter.

Pence, entering his redshirt sophomore campaign, compiled a 4-3 win-loss record and 3.33 earned run average over 27 appearance last year. Denton, who led the Diamond Heels with 31 appearances (tied-fourth in the ACC), shared the team lead for five saves.

Will we see either reliever suit up tomorrow?

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.