While UNC (3-0) came through, sweeping Kentucky (0-3) over the weekend, it wasn’t without some ups and downs. But for head coach Mike Fox, opening weekend jitters are to be expected — and could act as a beneficial part of getting the younger players accustomed to the college game.
“(It) doesn’t matter whether you’re a freshman or a junior, you’re a little bit amped up ...” Fox said.
“Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want ... So we had some young guys get some experience.”
Redshirt first-year Josh Hiatt got more than experience this weekend. After earning a save in his college debut Friday, he returned with encore performances Saturday and Sunday. After UNC tallied just four saves all of last season, Hiatt notched three on the weekend, cementing himself as an early favorite for the closer role.
“I felt good tonight,” Hiatt said on Saturday. “I had a lot of emotion running at the end.”
From speaking with the coaches, it was clear Hiatt worked hard throughout the offseason. But he still knew it would take a certain type of focus to succeed at the college level.
“You can’t expect anything here ...” he said. “In the preseason, they put me in those situations, late innings ... Not saying I was expecting it, but you just have to be ready when your time comes.”
Guidance from some of the tenured Tar Heels helped guide younger members of the team on how to prepare for these high-pressure scenarios.
