UNC baseball records first combined no-hitter since 1999 in win over Gardner-Webb

With two outs in the top of the seventh and UNC up by ten runs, the Tar Heels were just one out away from making history. 

On a 2-2 count, first-year right-handed pitcher Camron Seagraves wound up. He delivered a 97 mile per hour pitch high in the strike zone. 

Gardner-Webb's Matt Ilgenfritz swung and missed. 

Seagraves walked off the mound toward the dugout as North Carolina's bullpen ran in from the outfield. 

“No-hitter,” head coach Scott Forbes said. “I've never been a part of one.” 

In No. 19 UNC baseball's 11-1 win over Gardner Webb on Tuesday night after a seventh inning run rule, three Diamond Heels pitchers — sophomore Olin Johnson, sophomore Folger Boaz and Seagraves — recorded UNC's first combined no-hitter since 1999. The record comes over a week after UNC senior pitcher Aidan Haugh was just one pitch away from a no-hitter against Boston College.

“I thought Folger was outstanding,” Forbes said. “He needed that. I thought he was under control. I thought he had command of all his pitches. Olin again has been Olin. He was outstanding. It was really good to get Cam back out there.” 

Boaz started on the mound for North Carolina, tallying two strikeouts in the first inning and facing just three batters. In the second inning, however, Gardner Webb's leadoff batter, Dale Francis Jr., reached on an error and eventually advanced to second off a wild pitch. Francis Jr. scored the only Bulldog run after another error — this time, by Boaz. 

In the fourth inning, Johnson entered for Boaz.

And that's when the historic moment nearly slipped away. 

In the top of the fourth with two outs, sophomore third baseman Gavin Gallaher bobbled a routine ground ball. However, he quickly recovered and made the play to end the inning.

For Johnson, his first UNC no-hitter comes amid a season of change. 

Johnson began the year as a starter for the Tar Heels and has since transitioned to the bullpen.  

“I've definitely had a little bit more success out of the pen,“ Johnson said. “I feel like I can help the team win out of the pen more significantly."

And although it wasn’t the first no-hitter for Johnson — his first came during his sophomore year of high school — this one felt different. 

“It's definitely more fun on a bigger stage and to combine it with my teammates too,” Johnson said. “I know Cam's gonna come out and pick me up, and it feels good to be able to piggyback off Folger earlier in the game." 

After pitching three innings, walking just one batter and striking out two, Johnson was replaced by Seagraves.

In the top of the seventh inning, with the chance for North Carolina to force a run rule, Seagraves forced a fly out to center field. Then, he struck out the next two batters.

No-hitter complete.

Graduate designated hitter Sam Angelo, who started the Tar Heel sixth inning offensive explosion, had a front-row seat to the dominant performance on the mound.

“Getting to watch this pitching staff every day is a pleasure,” Angelo said. “These are some of the best arms I've ever seen, and it's honestly a joy just getting to watch them every single day."

As North Carolina continues into its ACC schedule, it's pitching staff has continued to fine-tune itself and become a reliable unit for the Diamond Heels.

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