Carolina Baseball Dominates with DeCaro's Stellar Performance
In a commanding display of pitching and hitting, the Carolina Tar Heels secured a decisive 10-0 victory over their in-state rivals, ECU, on Friday night at Clark-LeClair Stadium. This win marks their third mercy rule triumph of the young season, showcasing their early dominance.
DeCaro's Masterful Shutout
The spotlight was firmly on Jason DeCaro, the preseason All-American who delivered a complete game shutout, stifling ECU's offense with precision. DeCaro's performance was nothing short of spectacular, striking out seven batters while allowing just five hits and a single walk. This outing marks the star junior's first career complete game, with ECU struggling to mount any significant threat, only reaching third base twice.
Offensive Firepower
Backing DeCaro's brilliance was a relentless offensive effort from the Tar Heels. Every player in the lineup contributed with a hit, and six out of nine players also drew walks, keeping the pressure on ECU throughout the game.
The early momentum came from solo home runs by Erik Paulsen and Cooper Nicholson. Paulsen, a Stony Brook transfer, continued his impressive start with an RBI double and a walk, adding to his home run. Nicholson, on the other hand, found his stride in Greenville, going 2-2 with a home run, a two-RBI double, two hit-by-pitches, and three runs scored.
Looking Ahead
The Tar Heels aim to maintain their momentum as they face ECU again on Saturday, this time at a neutral site, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Folger Boaz is expected to take the mound for Carolina, with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
ET. Although the game won't be streamed, fans can catch the live action via audio broadcast at goHeels.com/watch/live, featuring Matt Krause and Ben Mihailovich.
With DeCaro's standout performance and the lineup firing on all cylinders, Carolina is setting an early tone this season, making it clear they're a force to be reckoned with.