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.
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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?
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