Stanford Shuts Out UNC in Series Finale, 7-0

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina Tar Heels suffered a 7-0 defeat against the Stanford Cardinal in a crucial series finale at Boshamer Stadium on Sunday afternoon, marking their first home conference series loss since April 2023.

The Tar Heels, who now sit at 14-2 overall and 1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, struggled offensively throughout the game, managing to connect for multiple hits only during a ninth-inning rally.

Star pitcher for North Carolina, whose performance included five strikeouts, allowed only one earned run and limited Stanford to just a single hit against him until the concluding innings. He stands out with season statistics showing opponents batting .188 against him.

Veteran shortstop also made an impact, contributing two hits that raised his batting average to .344, the second highest on the team. Catcher had a hit and a walk, finishing the series with an impressive 6-for-10 tally, which included five RBIs, three runs scored, and four walks.

Despite Sunday’s setback, North Carolina aims to recover quickly with an upcoming matchup against UNC-Wilmington scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. The team looks to regroup following a series of mixed results against Stanford.

Notably, Stanford, currently 12-3 and 2-1 in the ACC, demonstrated resilience by outscoring their opponents significantly in previous games. In the first game of the series, Stanford overcame a 6-6 tie by mashing a pair of home runs in the fifth inning, resulting in a 13-9 win.

In contrast, UNC achieved a commanding 11-1 victory against Stanford in the second game of the series. Four Tar Heels contributed two or more RBIs in that win, showcasing their capability to bounce back from Friday’s loss.

As the series concluded with the Cardinal’s impressive pitching performance, including standout play from sophomore Joey Volchko, who struck out six batters in 5.1 innings, UNC will need to refocus ahead of their next games. The Tar Heels’ pitcher, along with reliever Aidan Keenan, effectively silenced the Tar Heels’ offense on Sunday.

Looking ahead, Stanford will return home to face Duke next weekend, while North Carolina is eager to resume their competitive edge against UNCW and Louisville. The Tar Heels hope to leverage their recent successes and make necessary adjustments to remain competitive in the ACC.