Game Day: UNC at NC State Series Preview
Tar Heels, Wolfpack renew rivalry in Raleigh
For the first time in four years, North Carolina travels to Raleigh this weekend for a three-game series against rival N.C. State.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the series, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday and will continue at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
Matchup: UNC (25-17, 8-13 ACC) at N.C. State (29-13, 11-9 ACC)
UNC ranks: No. -/-/- (Baseball America, D1Baseball, USA Today Coaches Poll)
N.C. State ranks: No. -/-/- (Baseball America, D1Baseball, USA Today Coaches Poll)
TV: Friday / Saturday (ESPNU) / Sunday
Listen: TuneIn
Live Stats: Click here
Pitching matchups
Friday: RHP Max Carlson (1-2, 4.04 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Whitaker (1-2, 3.57 ERA)
Following his last start against Liberty on April 26, when he surrendered one run over three innings, Max Carlson said he started putting too much pressure on himself after stepping into the Friday role against Louisville on April 8. The right-hander, however, might have turned a corner in his last Friday start, holding Virginia to three runs over 6 2/3 innings, the longest outing by any UNC pitcher this year. Despite the promising signs, the sophomore continues to struggle with walks, issuing 17 over his last five starts. That’s compared to 20 strikeouts in the same span.
Opposing Carlson will be Logan Whitaker, who, after being sidelined by injuries over his first three years at N.C. State, has established himself as one of the Wolfpack’s top arms in his return to the mound this year. Used as a reliever and a midweek starter in the first month of the season, the right-hander will be making his eighth consecutive weekend start Friday. Over his first seven, he’s notched a 4.18 ERA, which is inflated by his start against Virginia Tech, when he allowed nine runs over four innings.
Saturday: LHP Brandon Schaeffer (4-1, 3.90 ERA) vs. RHP Matt Willadsen (2-3, 4.87 ERA)
Brandon Schaeffer will take the hill on three days’ rest after throwing 40 pitches in 2 1/3 innings of two-run ball against Charlotte on Tuesday. The lefty made one mistake against the 49ers — hanging a changeup that Will Butcher sent over the left-field wall for a two-run homer — but was otherwise sharp. In striking out three without a walk, the WVU Potomac State transfer brought his strikeout-to-walk ratio to 15:4 over his last seven games (four starts). He’s logged a 3.65 ERA in 24 2/3 innings in that span.
N.C. State will counter with Matt Willadsen, who is coming off the best outing of his career last Saturday, when he struck out a career-high 13 over seven shutout innings against Radford. A key member of last year’s College World Series squad, the righty has been a workhorse this season, tossing at least 94 pitches in all 10 of his starts in which pitch data is available. Walks, however, have been an issue — his 31 are the second most among qualified ACC pitchers. Saturday will mark Willadsen’s third career appearance against UNC. Last season, he pitched two scoreless innings of relief on March 27, 2021, then allowed three runs in 7 1/3 innings two days later.
Sunday: TBA vs. TBA
As they did two weeks ago against Virginia, the Tar Heels will wait until after Saturday’s game to determine their Sunday starter. Righties Connor Bovair (4-3, 5.40 ERA), Kyle Mott (6-3, 6.02) and Shaddon Peavyhouse (3-3, 5.00) as well as lefty Shawn Rapp (2-0, 3.48) are among the potential candidates. Mott notably didn’t pitch versus Charlotte. It’s also worth pointing out that the Wolfpack boast a right-handed-heavy lineup that’s batting .315/.402/.544 against lefties, which could prompt UNC to keep Rapp in the bullpen and use him based on matchups.
N.C. State will likely turn to lefty Canaan Silver (6-0, 2.92 ERA), who has served as the team’s third starter the last four weekends. Over that stretch — which includes a start against Louisville in which he allowed six runs in as many innings — he’s registered a 4.03 ERA in 22 1/3 innings and gone at least five in all four starts. On the year, Silver ranks in the top 75 nationally in WHIP (1.03, 54th), walks allowed per nine innings (1.82, 75th) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.70, 75th).
Scouting the Wolfpack
When N.C. State arrived in Chapel Hill for a three-game series in late March 2021, it was struggling to stay afloat at 5-9 overall and 1-8 in ACC play. The Wolfpack looked every bit the part of a consensus preseason top-25 team in its sweep of UNC, though, winning all three games by the combined score of 23-6. As it turned out, that proved to be the turning point in a memorable season for N.C. State, which went on to beat No. 1 national seed Arkansas in super regionals and then started 2-0 at the College World Series before a COVID-19 outbreak ended its Omaha run.
After the season, the Wolfpack lost most of its core — including seven of its starting position players and two of its best arms in Reid Johnston and Evan Justice — to the professional ranks. But thanks to some key additions and returning veterans such as Devonte Brown and J.T. Jarrett, N.C. State has hardly missed a beat and enters this weekend firmly in the mix to host a regional.
The Wolfpack’s lineup has been at the center of its success, ranking in the top 30 nationally in home runs (74, 16th), slugging percentage (.513, 18th) and scoring (8.0 runs per game, 30th) entering Thursday. Although he’s slowed down a bit since his sensational start, freshman Tommy White (.372/.430/.762 with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs) has been one of the nation’s top hitters. The slugger’s status for this weekend seems uncertain after he suffered an apparent shoulder injury against Radford last Friday and missed the remainder of the series, but the lineup features other tough outs — such as Charlotte transfer LuJames Groover (.369/.450/.536), Noah Soles (.345/.413/.482) and Baseball America’s No. 296 MLB Draft prospect Josh Hood (.269/.345/.532 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs).
N.C. State’s pitching staff was recently dealt a major blow when ace Sam Highfill (1-1, 5.53 ERA) — who last pitched on April 3 — was ruled out for the rest of the year with an undisclosed injury. Despite not having the left-hander for much of the season, the Wolfpack has managed to get by on the mound. Entering Thursday, the club ranked in the top 100 nationally in strikeouts per nine innings (9.9, 39th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.37, 67th), hits allowed per nine innings (8.90, 77th), WHIP (1.45, 84th) and ERA (4.90, 94th). Left-hander Chris Villaman (3-2, 4.11 ERA, 8 SV and a 38.4% strikeout rate) anchors the back of the bullpen.
N.C. State’s defense is certainly its biggest weakness, as the team ranks 236th nationally and last in the ACC in fielding percentage (.960).
Numbers to know
The Tar Heels lead the all-time series with the Wolfpack, 169-138-1.
The last time UNC and N.C. State met was on May 28, 2021, in the ACC Tournament in Charlotte. The Tar Heels won 9-6, thanks largely to Mac Horvath — who went 2-for-3 with a grand slam and four RBIs.
This weekend will mark UNC’s first trip to Doak Field at Dail Park since sweeping all three games against the Wolfpack the weekend of April 27-29, 2018. Fifth-year seniors Clemente Inclan and Caden O’Brien are the only Tar Heels on the current roster who played in that series.
Ranked No. 34 in the RPI, UNC has played the country's 11th-hardest schedule, according to WarrenNolan.com.
The Tar Heels are 3-12 away from Boshamer Stadium this season and 12-29 over the last two years. That’s compared to a 41-15 home record in the same span.
Entering Thursday, UNC’s offense ranked in the top 100 nationally in home runs (57, 49th), hit-by-pitches (61, 73rd), hits (420, 94th) and slugging percentage (.451, 95th).
From April 4, 2021, to April 2, fifth-year outfielder Angel Zarate reached base in 50 straight games. During the streak, he slashed .382/.474/.545 with 15 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 31 walks compared to just 19 strikeouts.
Zarate is slashing .348/.435/.459 this season. His 63 hits were tied for the 66th most in the country entering Thursday, and his 14 doubles were seven more than his previous career high.
Fourth-year shortstop Danny Serretti has played in 177 games during his Tar Heel career, making 175 starts. No other UNC player has played in more than 135 games or made more than 109 starts at the Division I level.
Serretti is slashing a career-best .331/.415/.521 this season. He’s currently riding a career-best 16-game hitting streak, in which he’s batting .375/.487/.594 with 15 RBIs, seven multi-hit games and 14 walks compared to nine strikeouts.
With 49 career doubles, the third most among active ACC hitters, Serretti is tied with Dan Moylan (1998-2000) for the 10th most in program history. Jarrett Shearin (1996-99) holds the school record of 73.
Sixth-year senior Mikey Madej has started the last 16 games for the Tar Heels in left field. In that span, he’s hitting .345 (19-for-55).
In going 4-for-4 with two homers, a double and six RBIs on April 8 at Louisville, third-year slugger Alberto Osuna became the first UNC player to post four hits, two homers and six RBIs since Seth Baldwin accomplished the feat against Princeton on March 17, 2009.
With six homers and 17 RBIs over the last 13 games, Osuna leads the team in both homers (13) and RBIs (34). His 13 homers were also tied for the 55th most in the country entering Thursday.
Sophomore Johnny Castagnozzi is slashing .291/.397/.509 with 18 extra-base hits (nine doubles and nine home runs). He recorded eight extra-base hits (four doubles and four homers) all last season.
After striking out in 38.7% of his plate appearances last season, Castagnozzi has posted a 17.9% strikeout rate this season. His 18 walks are also eight more than he had all last season.
Horvath has tied the game, given the Tar Heels the lead or pushed their lead to two in the sixth inning or later seven times this season.
Horvath’s team-high 29 walks are 14 more than he had in 46 games last season.
After not even attempting a steal last season, Horvath is 14-for-16 on stolen-base attempts this year.
Over the last 17 games, Horvath is hitting .316/.409/.776 with eight doubles, nine homers and 17 RBIs.
Sophomore first baseman Hunter Stokely is slashing .311/.413/.371 this season. Of his 41 hits, 35 have been singles. He’s also notched five doubles and a home run.
Over the last 13 games, Stokely is hitting .358 (19-for-53) with five of his six extra-base hits (four doubles and a homer).
Stokely went 3-for-8 with two homers against N.C. State last season.
Entering Thursday, freshman outfielder Vance Honeycutt’s 23 stolen bases were tied for the 24th most in the country and were the second most by any freshman — UMass Lowell’s Jacob Humphrey has 38. They’re also the most by a UNC freshman since Adam Greenberg had 28 in 2000.
Entering Thursday, the Tar Heels’ pitching staff ranked in the top 100 nationally in shutouts (three, 41st), strikeouts per nine innings (9.8, 46th), ERA (4.36, 49th), hits allowed per nine innings (8.58, 54th), WHIP (1.43, 74th) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.30, 77th).
Entering March 25, UNC ranked third nationally with a 2.07 ERA. Over the last 21 games, UNC has recorded a 6.55 ERA (142 earned runs over 195 innings).
Entering March 25, the Tar Heels ranked 19th nationally with 3.03 walks allowed per nine innings. Over the last 21 games, they’ve issued 5.4 walks per nine innings (118 total).
UNC has given up 41 home runs over the last 21 games. The Tar Heels allowed 16 homers in their first 21 games.
Rapp has registered a 3.48 ERA while striking out 44 in 31 innings over 32 appearances, the most in the country.
After posting a 6.88 ERA in 17 innings over 17 appearances last season, fourth-year righty Davis Palermo has recorded a 2.15 ERA while striking out 48 in 37 2/3 innings over 24 appearances. Teams are hitting .157 (21-for-134) against him.