UNC baseball sweeps Stony Brook with 9-5 victory in 12th consecutive win

The No. 5 UNC baseball team (12-0) defeated Stony Brook (3-6), 9-5, on Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.

Propelled by senior right-handed pitcher Aidan Haugh's eight strikeouts and a four-run fifth inning, the Tar Heels took an early 7-2 lead. Despite a three-run homer from the Seawolves late, graduate right fielder Tyson Bass responded with his own moon shot in the eighth to push UNC to a 9-5 score. 

“I thought Aiden Haugh was outstanding,” head coach Scott Forbes said.“Tons of strikes, three pitches, pretty much any count.”

Senior right-handed pitcher Aidan Haugh took the mound, looking to follow up his 10 career-high strikeouts with another good outing against the Seawolves. 

Haugh started strong, retiring the side in order with two ground outs and a fly out to left field.

At the bottom of the first, junior center fielder Kane Kepley was hit by the first pitch of his at bat and advanced to first. Graduate first baseman Hunter Stokely brought Kepley home with a line drive in between second and third. 

Haugh continued pitching well, punching out two batters to maintain UNC's 1-0 lead. 

Stony Brook's pitcher, Aidan Colagrande, struck out first-year Perry Hargett to begin the bottom of the second. Unable to find the zone, Colagrande walked senior second baseman Jackson Van De Brake.  The senior swiftly stole second base after junior designated hitter Rom Kellis flew out to centerfield. Colagrande finished the inning by striking out sophomore catcher Luke Stevenson, leaving Van De Brake stranded at second.

In the top of the third, Stony Brook couldn’t capitalize, as Haugh finished the inning with another two strikeouts.

Although Colagrande allowed two hits, North Carolina could not cash to increase its lead. The game remained 1-0 heading into the top of the fourth.

Two consecutive grounds outs and a strikeout swinging kept the Seawolves scoreless. UNC failed to capitalize in the bottom of the frame. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Stevenson reached first on a bobbled grounder to second. Immediately after, he advanced to second from a wild pitch. Sophomore infielder Gavin Gallaher singled to center field, allowing Stevenson to reach third. Stokely stepped up to the plate and launched a hit to center field, bringing home Stevenson on a sacrifice fly. 

The Diamond Heels didn’t stop there. Graduate right fielder Tyson Bass singled to shallow center and extended North Carolina’s lead to 3-0.

“[It felt] indescribably good to  actually hit the ball again,” Bass said.

Stony Brook relieved Colgrande and brought in lefty Micah Worley.  The North Carolina run continued as Bass and graduate shortstop Alex Madera stole second and third, respectively.

A low fastball from Worley passed sophomore catcher Luke Szepek, allowing Bass to jog home for another run. Another sacrifice fly brought Madera home, which gave the Diamond Heels a 5-0 advantage at the end of the fifth.

Haugh continued his scoreless game at the top of the sixth, striking out another two batters. 

In the bottom of the frame, Stokely singled up the middle, securing his third RBI of the day.  Bass followed up with an RBI of his own, widening the gap to 7-0 for North Carolina. 

“I’m getting the cages with Coach every day,” Stokely said.  “wherever the ball's pitched [I’m] reacting to it.”

Junior infielder Johnny Pilla hit a lead-off double to right field to start off the seventh inning. Haugh showed signs of fatigue, walking the next batter. After throwing a wild pitch, runners advanced to second and third. Then, Stony Brook’s Nico Azplicueta doubled to right field, pushing two players home. 

Haugh was relieved by first-year right-handed pitcher Camron Seagraves. Stony Brook left a runner stranded after the first-year struck out two consecutive batters. 

Seagraves lost control of his fastball at the top of the eighth, allowing two runners on base before being relieved by junior righty Matthew Matthijs. After earning two outs, Stony Brook's Evan Goforth crushed a hanging fastball for a three-run shot to left field.

Going into the bottom of the eighth, the Seawolves trailed 7-5. 

But Bass responded with a two-run moon shot to center field to reinstate UNC's healthy lead in the bottom of the frame. It was Bass' first home run in a North Carolina uniform. 

UNC shut down the Seawolves in the top of the ninth to win 9-5.

The Diamond Heels will host Coastal Carolina on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misspelled first baseman Hunter Stokely's name. The Daily Tar Heel apologizes for this error.

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