Coach Mike Fox always says that pitching and defense are the name of the game.
With the No. 21 North Carolina baseball team featuring a much younger lineup than last year’s team, that statement is especially true.
After winning all three games against North Florida over the weekend, the defense might still be a work in progress, but the pitching — especially the starting pitching — is lights out.
This weekend it began with a 7.2 inning shutout from sophomore Trent Thornton, who recently moved into the team’s Friday starter role.
“(Coach Scott) Forbes came up to me early on Monday and was like, ‘You know you’re throwing your bullpen Tuesday,’” Thornton said. “It took me a second and I was like, ‘Wait a minute coach, does that mean I’m pitching Friday?’ and he goes, ‘Yeah you’ve got the Friday role’ and that’s pretty much all that was said.”
“But you know in my mind that’s where I’ve wanted to be ever since I got here.”
Thornton held the Ospreys to just five hits during his outing, and also struck out six batters while walking none.
On Saturday, it was junior Benton Moss’ turn to start for the Tar Heels. He followed up Thornton’s performance with the first complete game of his career and led UNC to a 5-1 win to clinch the series.
Moss allowed the lone run in the first inning of the game and said that it shows how much he’s grown over the years that he was able to settle down and breeze through the remaining eight innings.