On Tuesday, the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs 11-1 in seven innings, with three pitchers combining for a no-hitter.
It was the first no-hitter in the program’s history since 1999, when they did it against Towson and the third in Tar Heels baseball history.
Folger Boaz got the start for North Carolina against Gardner-Webb. He went three innings, gave up no hits and walks, and struck out four batters. He gave up an unearned run by way of Gardner-Webb’s Dale Francis scoring when Ethan Liao reached on an error. When Boaz exited the game, the Tar Heels led 2-1.
Olin Johnson came on to replace Boaz and did just as well, going three innings, notching two strikeouts, walking one batter, and allowing no hits and no runs while getting credited with the win. It was his first in the 2025 college baseball season.
Then, the North Carolina offense scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. This gave them an opportunity to end the game in the seventh inning via the mercy rule.
Head coach Scott Forbes sent Camron Seagraves out to close the game, and that is what Seagraves did. In his one inning of work, he struck out two Gardner Webb hitters and forced a fly-out. It only took three at-bats.
North Carolina earned their 22nd win of the season off the combined no-hitter from Boaz, Johnson, and Seagraves.
They will be back in action this weekend as they face off against their rival, the Duke Blue Devils, in a three-game weekend series. The big-time ACC series begins on Thursday, April 3, at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT.
Photo: North Carolina’s Folger Boaz (36) pitches during an NCAA Baseball game on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
