Brilliant Bovair Buoys Tar Heels to Series Win Over Duke
The righty turned in six strong innings in his second weekend start for UNC
DURHAM, N.C. — When Scott Forbes and the rest of the North Carolina coaching staff opted to move Connor Bovair from the bullpen to the weekend rotation about two weeks ago, they did so with the hope that the Siena transfer could be a Friday night-like arm pitching on Sundays.
Bovair offered a glimpse of that potential in his first weekend start for the Tar Heels on March 13, allowing two runs in five innings on short rest against Pittsburgh. But pitching on a full week’s rest Sunday in a rubber game against Duke at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, he showed just how much of a difference-maker he can be.
In steering UNC to a 4-1 win – which followed a 10-5 victory on Friday and a 9-3 loss on Saturday – Bovair allowed just one run (unearned) on two hits over six sensational innings. Although the righty issued four walks, he worked around them with relative ease while striking out six, all swinging.
Not only was the outing Bovair’s longest this season, but it was the longest by a Tar Heel starter on a Sunday since Max Alba went 7 2/3 innings against Clemson over a year ago, on March 14, 2021. Such a start couldn’t have come at a better time for UNC, which got only 5 1/3 total innings from Friday starter Brandon Schaeffer and Saturday starter Max Carlson.
“The coaches kind of just told me give us whatever you can give us,” Bovair said. “Each outing I try to go in there and just do the best I can. (Sunday), it took me six innings, but it can change so quickly with one swing of the game. I was fortunate. Coach (Bryant) Gaines called a great game and (Tomas) Frick behind the plate just being himself was awesome and some good help on defense and six innings later there we go.”
As simple as that might sound, things were anything but for Bovair, especially early.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder opened the game with a four-pitch walk, then fell behind 2-0 to the Blue Devils’ most feared slugger, RJ Schreck, who at the time was 5-for-8 with two home runs in the series. Bovair, however, buckled down and threw eight straight strikes to escape the inning unscathed.
“I ended up getting out of that inning with no damage and I went back, took a seat and just kind of took a deep breath,” he said. “At the end of the day, you just have to have fun, and I think I was pressing a little too hard. The crowd was bigger than usual. Going for a series win, the pressure was high, and I think that got to me a little bit in the beginning of the game. But once I settled in, it made it a lot better.”
Starting with Schreck, Bovair retired nine straight batters before issuing his second walk in the fourth. He then sat down the next three before finally giving up his first hit – a single to Chris Crabtree – to open the fifth. After an errant throw by Danny Serretti on a potential double-play ball allowed the next hitter to reach second, Duke scratched across its lone run off Bovair on a fly ball that got caught up in the wind and fell between three Tar Heels for a single. Bovair bounced right back, though, striking out Chris Davis to end the inning.
Bovair only gave up a walk in the sixth, and after opening the seventh with another free pass, he exited to a standing ovation.
All six of Bovair’s strikeouts came with his slider, which sat about 82-84. And despite not commanding his fastball as well as he would have liked, he never shied away from the pitch and used it effectively enough to keep the Blue Devils off-balance – which wasn’t always the case under similar circumstances in a fall and preseason full of adjustments.
“The level here is a little bit higher from the speed of the game, and Connor has had to adjust,” Forbes said. “But man, he’s got a great fastball and it rides; it plays 95 even when it’s 93. And to not have that and be able to throw the other pitches, he can still use his fastball, and it played when he needed it to play.”
When Bovair elected to transfer to UNC this offseason, the chance to pitch in games as big as Sunday’s played a significant role in this decision. And in taking advantage of that opportunity against Duke, he helped the Tar Heels (17-3, 5-1 ACC) pick up their second conference series win in as many tries.
“Growing up, I’m watching all the UNC-Duke rivalry, and to be on a stage to win a series like that, obviously the team helped a ton,” he said. “I guess it’s just awesome to be a part of because the team is great. I think it’s a really special group we have.”
Practice makes perfect
Friday’s game featured the most talented pitcher UNC has faced this year in Marcus Johnson, who Baseball America ranks as the No. 82 prospect in the 2022 MLB Draft. That, however, didn’t deter the Tar Heels, who jumped on the right-hander for five runs and seven hits – including three home runs – in the first four innings. Before then, UNC hadn’t scored across its first two road games.
Knowing Johnson has a good high-spin fastball that gets up to 97 mph, assistant coach Jesse Wierzbicki put the Tar Heel hitters through a tough practice Thursday against the pitching machine. Forbes said the practice “wasn’t beautiful or pretty,” but it paid off in a big way Friday.
“It was huge,” said Alberto Osuna, who led off the top of the second with a mammoth home run off Johnson and later homered off reliever Aaron Beasley for his first multi-homer games at UNC. “We failed so much that we had to learn how to approach it. Honestly, it was probably harder than the game. I think it made the game easier.”
Overcoming injuries
Although he hasn’t performed to the level that he did during a dominant preseason, Schaeffer entered Friday having gone at least five innings in his first four starts this spring. Back spams, however, limited the left-hander to three innings and 43 pitches Friday. To his credit, Schaeffer fought through the pain in allowing two runs on five hits while striking out two and walking one.
“(Schaeffer’s back spasms) crept up (Friday) afternoon,” Forbes said. “They got it good enough to where he could go out there, and he still had a pretty good fastball. He said he was fine, and when a guy tells you he’s fine and he’s not grimacing, we let him go.”
The Tar Heels took a similar approach Saturday, as Carlson tried to pitch through a blister. The right-hander made it through 2 1/3 innings, but was pulled after the blister worsened and he surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out four and walking one.
Neither pitcher appears to be in jeopardy of missing their next scheduled start against Miami.
Pry’s impressive performance
Following Carlson’s early exit as well Shaddon Peavyhouse and Shawn Rapp giving up six runs in the fourth Saturday, UNC needed someone to step up and, at minimum, eat innings. Not only did Nik Pry do that, but he turned in one of the best performances by a Tar Heel reliever this year, striking out six and walking one across three hitless, scoreless innings.
A year removed from leading UNC in appearances (29), Pry has made just three this season. Saturday, however, showed just how effective the righty can be when his stuff – specifically his cutter and slider – is on and he’s not making mistakes over the heart of the plate. It might have also earned him some more innings going forward.
“Just speaks a lot to Nik, how hard he works,” Forbes said. “He’s always ready. He’s a tough kid. He’s one of our team leaders. It didn’t surprise me, honestly, at all. He was one of our best guys last year. He hasn’t pitched a ton this year; it’s a long season. And I’ll tell you what, that was great to see because we need another arm or two to help us win.”
Zarate’s historic feat
With his first-inning single Saturday, Angel Zarate became the owner of the longest on-base streak (42 games) by a Tar Heel since Mike Fox became the team’s head coach before the 1999 season. Logan Warmoth held the previous record of 41, set from April 24, 2016, to March 31, 2017.
Zarate extended his streak to 43 games in going 2-for-4 with a walk on Sunday. In that span, the fifth-year outfielder is hitting .397/.490/.578 with 27 walks and 12 strikeouts. Having also recorded a 39-game on-base streak between the 2019 and 2021 seasons, he’s reached base in 86 of his last 88 games.
“It’s not because he did it, it’s because of who he is,” Forbes said. “That makes it even better. … Angel Zarate is a kid who we told it may be best for you to go play somewhere else, and he didn’t leave. Boy, did he show us, and I’m so thankful he did.”
Stokely’s steady defense
As inconsistent as UNC has been defensively, Hunter Stokely has been impressive since taking over the starting first-base job on March 2. The sophomore has yet to commit an error on 92 chances this season, and he’s made several nice plays.
Sunday was perhaps his best defensive game yet and was highlighted by a difficult backhand stab on a hard-hit groundball in the fourth. Not only did he come up with it, but he threw a strike to Serretti to get the out at second base and give the shortstop a chance to turn the double play. Stokely then made a similar play an inning later on a soft grounder.
“Stokely is very athletic,” said Forbes of the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder. “He’s a big kid, but he’s worked on that and is continuing to get in better shape, continuing to work on his body. And I’ve told him, you can be a Gold Glove first baseman if you continue to get quicker. So, compared to where he was last year, he’s in better shape, he’s stronger and he’s only going to keep doing that because he is one of the most fun, joyful kids to be around and that helps our team now that he’s worked his way onto the field.”
Back at the DBAP
With their last scheduled road series against the Blue Devils being canceled in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this weekend marked the Tar Heels’ first trip to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park since the 2019 ACC Tournament. That also meant it was the first time 35 of UNC’s 43 players had played there, at least in college.
As good of an experience as it was for them, the return to the facility was welcomed by even the most frequent of visitors.
“For me, I love coming here,” Forbes said. “I have unbelievable memories of my family coming, the 18-inning game against N.C. State (in 2013), eating at Denny’s at 4 a.m., winning the ACC Championship the next day off of two hours of sleep. This place makes me smile, makes me think of all the former Tar Heels who just made us smile. I think it’s a great place.”
What’s next?
UNC returns to Boshamer Stadium on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. tilt against Appalachian State. It will be the first meeting between the two programs since a 4-1 Tar Heel win on April 10, 2018, in Chapel Hill.
Picked to finish 10th in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll, the Mountaineers (7-11) dropped two of three games to Georgia Southern this weekend.