Game Day: UNC vs. Elon Preview
Tar Heels look to keep momentum rolling vs. Phoenix
Fresh off its sweep of Seton Hall, North Carolina continues its season-opening six-game homestand Tuesday, when it hosts Elon at 4 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the contest.
Matchup: UNC (3-0) vs. Elon (1-2)
UNC ranks: No. -/-/- (Baseball America, D1Baseball, USA Today Coaches Poll)
Elon ranks: No. -/-/- (Baseball America, D1Baseball, USA Today Coaches Poll)
TV: ACCNX
Listen: TuneIn
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Pitching matchup
LHP Will Sandy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Ian Evans (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Coming off a disappointing 2021 season in which he went 1-1 with an 11.42 ERA in 17 1/3 innings over 10 appearances (five starts), Will Sandy will kick off what UNC hopes is a bounceback season against the Phoenix. Tuesday will mark the second straight year that the lefty has made his debut against Elon. He also started last February’s game between the two teams at Boshamer Stadium, surrendering one hit and two walks across five scoreless innings, striking out six.
Taking the mound for the Phoenix will be Ian Evans. The third-year righty tossed two innings of relief Saturday, allowing one run (unearned) on two hits and a walk while striking out one. Tuesday will mark Evans’ return to the site of his collegiate debut and his first career start, as he gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks over four innings against the Tar Heels on Feb. 18, 2020.
Scouting the Phoenix
Picked fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason coaches poll, Elon is coming off a 22-22 campaign and an offseason in which it lost its entire infield, its primary catcher and one of its top hitters in Anthony Galason (.350/.428/.503).
Even then, the Phoenix brought back three position players who were named to the preseason All-CAA team: outfielder Alex Iadisernia (.368/.448/.626), first baseman Cole Reynolds (.292/.398/.444) and outfielder Justin Cassella (.276/.364/.466). None, however, gave Elon much in its 2-1 series loss to Fairfield last weekend, as Iadisernia and Reynolds went 3-for-20 with five walks and Cassella didn’t play. As a team, the Phoenix hit .211/.356/.400 against the Stags, scoring 13 runs.
On the mound, Elon’s pitching staff – led by preseason All-CAA starters Trevor Kirk and Joe Savino – allowed 15 runs (12 earned) against Fairfield. Most impressively, it issued just four walks, with two of those being intentional.
As much as anything, the Phoenix’s defense proved to be its undoing against the Stags, as six different players combined for as many errors.
Numbers to know
The Tar Heels lead the all-time series with Elon, 39-9. They’ve won 15 straight games in the series, with the Phoenix’s last win coming on April 6, 2010.
UNC’s 40 runs against Seton Hall were its most in a series since scoring 48 at Boston College in 2017. They were also the most runs the Tar Heels have scored in their first three games since 2003, when they scored 43 against Delaware State and Seton Hall.
Fifth-year outfielder Angel Zarate reached base in all three games against Seton Hall, extending his on-base streak to 26 games, dating back to last season. In that span, he’s hitting .372/.470/.606 with six doubles, two triples, four homers and 17 walks compared to just seven strikeouts.
Fourth-year shortstop Danny Serretti has played in 138 games during his UNC career, making 137 starts. No other Tar Heel has played in more than 108 games or made more than 78 starts at the Division I level.
Sophomore infielder Johnny Castagnozzi and Serretti each had seven hits against Seton Hall, the most by any Tar Heel in the first three games of a season since Skye Bolt had eight in 2013.
Sophomore catcher Tomas Frick drove in five runs in UNC’s first three games. He recorded 16 RBIs in 53 games last season.
With his leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth inning of the season opener, freshman outfielder Vance Honeycutt became the first Tar Heel to homer in his first collegiate at-bat since Drew Poulk on Feb. 16, 2007, against Seton Hall.
Honeycutt’s three hits in the season opener were the most by a UNC player in his collegiate debut since Wood Myers had three against the College of Charleston on Feb. 15, 2014.
Honeycutt’s three stolen bases in as many games this season are as many as any returning Tar Heel had last season – Serretti and Zarate each had three.
UNC allowed just six runs against Seton Hall, the fewest it surrendered in a three-game, season-opening series since 2009, when it also gave up six to VMI.
The Tar Heels’ bullpen gave up three runs (one earned) while striking out 18 and walking three in 13 1/3 innings against Seton Hall.
Fifth-year righty Gage Gillian didn’t allow a hit or a walk over 2 2/3 scoreless innings Sunday. Over the last two seasons, he’s posted a 2.22 ERA in 52 2/3 innings, striking out 52 and walking nine. He’s gone two or more innings in 14 of his 24 relief appearances in that span.
Third-year lefty Shawn Rapp allowed only one baserunner (via a walk) and struck out six in 3 1/3 scoreless innings over two appearances against Seton Hall. Over the last two seasons, he’s registered a 3.34 ERA as a reliever (12 earned runs in 32 1/3 innings over 22 appearances).
Frick threw out 15 basestealers last season, the most by a Tar Heel freshman catcher since Mike Fox became UNC’s head coach in 1999. Chris Iannetta and Tim Federowicz each threw out 14 in 2002 and 2006, respectively.