UNC baseball beats UMass Lowell for first shutout of the season

For its first shutout of the season, the No. 5 North Carolina baseball team (9-1) beat UMass Lowell (0-8), 5-0, on Saturday in Boshamer Stadium.

What happened?

The game was originally scheduled to be played Friday afternoon, but rainy weather forced a doubleheader that began at noon on Saturday.

A home run from senior Jackson Esterlee in the second inning put the Tar Heels on the board after a scoreless first inning. Neither team got runners in to home in the third and fourth innings — as UNC remained ahead, 1-0.

By the fifth inning, the River Hawks had only one hit and no runs after being shutout in four consecutive one-two-three innings. In the bottom half of that inning and the bases loaded, first-year Caleb Roberts brought in the second run of the game with a walk. 

In the sixth, a one-out double put UMass Lowell in scoring position for the first time of the day, but the River Hawks did not capitalize on it. Meanwhile, in the sixth, junior Ike Freeman delivered a double with the bases loaded to bring in two runners. First-year Aaron Sabato then brought in his first RBI of the day as UNC led 5-0 headed into the seventh inning. 

In the eight inning, sophomore Caden O’Brien came into pitch for the Tar Heels, and senior Ben Casparius closed out the final inning, his first outting of the year.

Who stood out?

Hesterlee showed his maturity and went 2-5 at the plate with his first home run of the season, adding a double and an RBI to that total. Junior Gianluca Dalatri (1-0) pitched 7.1 innings in his second game on the mound this season and only gave up two hits. Junior Ike Freeman went 3-5 at the plate with 2 RBIs and a double. 

When was it decided?

After Hesterlee's home run in the bottom of the second inning, the Tar Heels’ lead over the River Hawks only increased in the remaining innings. The designated hitters' hit was huge as the Tar Heels got runners on base, but struggled to capitalize on it in several moments — leaving 13 runners stranded on base. 

But the real difference late was the pitching. While UNC held UMass Lowell scoreless, the Red Hawks used three pitchers in the sixth inning and brought in another in the seventh. In that sixth inning, the Tar Heels continued the pace scoring three more runs to close out the first game of the doubleheader. 

Why does it matter?

The Tar Heels returned to their home diamond after losing their first game of the season on Wednesday against VCU. In the win, the team bounced back and held its opponent scoreless in one of the final games of the home stand. 

After this weekend, UNC will have one final midweek game before ACC play and its first road series awaits in Clemson on March 8.

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels continue their series at home against the River Hawks later Saturday, and will close out the weekend at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning.