CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Junior college transfer Jackson Van De Brake hit a three-run home run in UNC’s four-run second inning, and the Tar Heels defeated Seton 4-2 on Sunday to earn a season-opening series win at Boshamer Stadium.
UNC relievers Dalton Pence, Justin Szestowicki and Ben Peterson closed the out the game, allowing just three hits while fanning a combined 10 over the final 5.1 scoreless innings. Pence (1-0) earned his first collegiate victory, yielding one hit in 2.1 and striking out four in 2.1 innings pitched. Szestowicki pitched a scoreless seventh and Peterson struck out three in the final two frames to earn his first save.
“Our starters did go as deep as we would have liked them too [in the series], but that can be normal early in the season,” UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. “We’re not big on going 100-110 pitches early.
“We started the season with Dalton as out potential closer, but we thought today that he needed to pitch so we put him in. [Szestowicki] gave us one which was huge. We’re not sure who is going to be our closer, but Ben Peterson sure did look like one today.”
The Tar Heels’ (2-1) winning rally started with two outs in the second inning. Hunter Stokely drew a…
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