2023 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team

2023 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record36–24 (14–14 ACC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Bryant Gaines (13th season)
  • Jesse Wierzbicki (7th season)
  • Jason Howell (3rd season)
Home stadiumBoshamer Stadium
2023 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Atlantic
No. 3 Wake Forest x‍‍‍y 22 – 7   .759 54 – 12   .818
No. 18 Clemson ‍‍‡‍y 20 – 10   .667 44 – 19   .698
Boston College ‍‍‍y 16 – 14   .533 37 – 20   .649
Norte Dame  ‍‍‍ 15 – 15   .500 30 – 24   .556
NC State ‍‍‍y 13 – 16   .448 36 – 21   .632
Louisville  ‍‍‍ 10 – 20   .333 31 – 24   .564
Florida State  ‍‍‍ 9 – 21   .300 23 – 31   .426
Coastal
No. 6 Virginia x‍‍‍y 19 – 11   .633 50 – 13   .794
No. 20 Miami (FL) ‍‍‍y 18 – 12   .600 42 – 21   .667
No. 15 Duke ‍‍‍y 16 – 13   .552 39 – 23   .629
 ‍‍‍y 14 – 14   .500 36 – 24   .600
Virginia Tech  ‍‍‍ 12 – 17   .414 30 – 23   .566
Georgia Tech  ‍‍‍ 12 – 18   .400 30 – 27   .526
Pittsburgh  ‍‍‍ 10 – 18   .357 24 – 31   .436
x – Division champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 25, 2023[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

The 2023 North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2023 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Tar Heels played their home games at Boshamer Stadium, and were a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They were led by head coach Scott Forbes, who was in his third season. He was assisted by Bryant Gaines, Jesse Wierzbicki, and Jason Howell. Dave Arendas served as director of operations.

The Tar Heels finished 36–24 overall and 14–14 in ACC play to finish in fourth place in the Coastal Division. They finished tied for seventh/eight in seeding for the ACC Tournament. They won the tiebreaker and were the seventh seed for the tournament. They were placed in a Pool with second seed Virginia and eleventh seed Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels won both of their pool games and advanced to the Semifinals, where they lost to eventual champions Clemson. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and were placed as the third seed in the Terre Haute regional. They lost to Iowa in the opening game, but defeated Wright State to force an elimination game versus Iowa. The Tar Heels lost 6–5 in thirteen innings to end their season.

Previous season

Further information: 2022 NCAA Division I baseball season

In Forbes' second year at the helm, the Tar Heels improved from their 2021 campaign. Finishing the season 42–22, the 2022 Tar Heels won the ACC Tournament and hosted both an NCAA Tournament Regional and Super Regional. Freshman sensation Vance Honeycutt broke out in a big way, leading the Tar Heels in many batting statistics en route to winning the ACC Freshman of the Year award. They were swept by Arkansas in the Chapel Hill Super Regional, denying Forbes his first College World Series appearance as a head coach.

Personnel

Roster

Class Listing as reflected on GoHeels.com

2023 North Carolina Tar Heels roster[2]
 

Pitchers

  • 14 - Justin Szestowicki - Freshman
  • 15 - Cameron Padgett - Freshman
  • 24 - Matthew Matthijs - Freshman
  • 25 - Ben Peterson - Junior
  • 26 - Kyle Percival - Freshman
  • 27 - Connor Bovair - Junior
  • 29 - Kevin Eaise - Graduate
  • 31 - Alden Segui - Sophomore
  • 35 - Max Carlson - Junior
  • 36 - Nik Pry - 5th
  • 38 - Matt Poston - Junior
  • 40 - Michael Colonna - Freshman
  • 41 - Will Sandy - 5th
  • 42 - Jake Knapp - Graduate
  • 43 - Nelson Berkwich - Junior
  • 44 - Carson Starnes - Sophomore
  • 46 - Will Simmons - Freshman
  • 47 - Nick Argento - Freshman
  • 48 - Connor Hegan - Freshman
  • 49 - Dalton Pence - Sophomore
  • 53 - Caleb Crain - Freshman
  

Catchers

  • 5 - Eric Grintz - Junior
  • 52 - Tomas Frick - Junior

Infielders

  • 3 - Colby Wilkerson - Junior
  • 4 - Austin Hawke - Freshman
  • 6 - Jackson Van De Brake - Sophomore
  • 10 - Mac Horvath - Junior
  • 19 - Johnny Castagnozzi - Junior
  • 45 - Hunter Stokely - Junior
  

Outfielders

  • 1 - Bryce Blaser - Freshman
  • 2 - Reece Holbrook - Sophomore
  • 7 - Vance Honeycutt - Sophomore
  • 11 - John Long - Freshman
  • 18 - Jackson Rusiecki - Freshman
  • 39 - Carter French - Freshman

Utility

  • 8 - Patrick Alvarez (INF/OF) - Junior
  • 12 - Jesse Jaconski (INF/OF) - Freshman
  • 16 - Casey Cook (INF/OF) - Freshman
  • 17 - Joe Jaconski (INF/OF) - Sophomore
  • 23 - Alberto Osuna (1B/DH) - Junior
  • 28 - Dylan King (C/OF) - Freshman
  • 54 - Max Riemer (C/OF) - Senior
  

Coaching Staff

2023 North Carolina Tar Heels coaching staff[2]
Name Position Seasons Alma Mater
Scott Forbes Head Coach 3 NC Wesleyan (1998)
Bryant Gaines Assistant Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator 13 North Carolina (2011)
Jesse Wierzbicki Assistant Coach 7 North Carolina (2011)
Jason Howell Assistant Coach 3 North Carolina (2002)
Dave Arendas Director of Baseball Operations 18 North Carolina (1990)

Schedule and results

Legend
  Win
  Loss
  Postponement
Bold North Carolina team member
* Non-Conference game
† Make-Up Game
2023 North Carolina Tar Heels Baseball Schedule & Results
Regular Season
February (5–3)
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACC Record
February 17 Seton Hall* No. 12 Boshamer Stadium
Chapel Hill, NC		 L 8–10 Payero (1–0) Eaise (0–1) None 2,582 0–1 –
February 18 Seton Hall* No. 12 Boshamer Stadium W 11–2 Padgett (1–0) Frontera (0–1) None 3,049 1–1 –
February 19 Seton Hall* No. 12 Boshamer Stadium W 4–2 Pence (1–0) Downing (0–1) Peterson (1) 2,632 2–1 –
February 21 Radford* No. 12 Boshamer Stadium W 14–2 Percival (1–0) Seitz (0–1) None 2,324 3–1 –
February 22 Longwood* No. 12 Boshamer Stadium W 10–0 Knapp (1–0) Taylor (0–1) Eaise (1) 2,013 4–1 –
February 24 at No. 11 East Carolina* No. 12 Clark–LeClair Stadium
Greenville, NC		 L 5–6 Lunsford-Shenkman (1–1) Pence (1–1) Root (1) 6,003 4–2 –
February 25 at No. 11 East Carolina* No. 12 Clark–LeClair Stadium Postponed (inclement weather) Makeup: May 3
February 26 No. 11 East Carolina* No. 12 Boshamer Stadium L 5–6 Ritchie (1–0) Szestowicki (0–1) Spivey (1) 4,042 4–3 –
February 28 VCU* No. 13 Boshamer Stadium W 10–4 Peterson (1–0) Peters (1–1) None 1,974 5–3 –
March (14–4)
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACC Record
March 1 VCU* No. 13 Boshamer Stadium W 14–10 Eaise (1–1) Walton (0–1) None 2,028 6–3 –
March 3 Stony Brook* No. 13 Boshamer Stadium W 3–2 (11) Poston (1–0) O'Neill (0–2) None 2,104 7–3 –
March 4 Stony Brook* No. 13 Boshamer Stadium W 7–5 Bovair (1–0) Fero (0–2) None 1,338 8–3 –
March 5 Stony Brook* No. 13 Boshamer Stadium W 15–4 Knapp (2–0) Smink (0–3) None 2,902 9–3 –
March 7 Western Carolina* No. 14 Boshamer Stadium W 8–4 (5) Percival (2–0) Bright (0–1) None 2,334 10–3 –
March 8 Penn State* No. 14 Boshamer Stadium W 15–5 Berkwich (1–0) Miller (1–2) None 1,896 11–3 –
March 10 No. 17 Virginia No. 14 Boshamer Stadium L 3–7 Tonas (1–0) Carlson (0–1) Berry (2) 1,960 11–4 0–1
March 11 No. 17 Virginia No. 14 Boshamer Stadium L 4–8 Hodorovich (1–0) Bovair (1–1) None 3,162 11–5 0–2
March 11 No. 17 Virginia No. 14 Boshamer Stadium W 6–0 Poston (2–0) O'Connor (1–1) None 3,103 12–5 1–2
March 14 at Charlotte* No. 18 Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium
Charlotte, NC		 W 16–3 Eaise (2–1) Spolyar (1–2) None 1,522 13–5 –
March 15 High Point* No. 18 Boshamer Stadium W 16–2 Sandy (1–0) Duffy (0–2) None 1,769 14–5 –
March 17 at Pittsburgh No. 18 Charles L. Cost Field
Pittsburgh, PA		 W 17–7 Bovair (2–1) Sokol (2–1) None 289 15–5 2–2
March 18 at Pittsburgh No. 18 Charles L. Cost Field Canceled (inclement weather)
March 19 at Pittsburgh No. 18 Charles L. Cost Field Canceled (inclement weather)
March 21 NC A&T* No. 15 Boshamer Stadium W 6–4 Sandy (2–0) Carter (1–1) Poston (1) 2,067 16–5 –
March 23 Duke No. 15 Boshamer Stadium W 6–3 Carlson (1–0) Porksch (2–1) Poston (2) 3,471 17–5 3–2
March 24 Duke No. 15 Boshamer Stadium L 5–8 Oschell III (2–0) Matthijs (0–1) Tallon (4) 4,011 17–6 3–3
March 25 Duke No. 15 Boshamer Stadium W 5–3 Knapp (3–0) Gow (2–2) Sandy (1) 3,969 18–6 4–3
March 28 No. 19 Coastal Carolina* No. 13 Boshamer Stadium L 7–12 Sharkey (3–0) Berkwich (1–1) None 2,554 18–7 –
March 31 at Notre Dame No. 13 Frank Eck Stadium
South Bend, IN		 W 10–8 Berkwich (2–1) Bosch (0–1) Eaise (2) 302 19–7 5–3
April (9–9)
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACC Record
April 2 at Notre Dame No. 13 Frank Eck Stadium W 5–2 Bovair (3–1) Findlay (4–1) Eaise (3) N/A 20–7 6–3
April 2 at Notre Dame No. 13 Frank Eck Stadium L 1–9 Tyrell (5–1) Knapp (3–1) None 847 20–8 6–4
April 4 vs. No. 6 South Carolina* No. 13 Truist Field
Charlotte, NC		 L 0–5 Proctor (2–0) Poston (2–1) None 6,277 20–9 –
April 6 at Georgia Tech No. 13 Russ Chandler Stadium
Atlanta, GA		 W 8–1 Carlson (2–1) Brown (1–2) None 1,235 21–9 7–4
April 7 at Georgia Tech No. 13 Russ Chandler Stadium W 10–6 Bovair (4–1) Schmolke (4–1) None 1,076 22–9 8–4
April 7 at Georgia Tech No. 13 Russ Chandler Stadium L 4–8 King (3–0) Knapp (3–2) None 1,427 22–10 8–5
April 11 Queens* No. 13 Boshamer Stadium W 10–6 Padgett (2–0) Offschanka (0–4) Eaise (4) 2,572 23–10 –
April 13 Miami (FL) No. 13 Boshamer Stadium L 4–5 Walters (3–0) Eaise (2–2) None 3,587 23–11 8–6
April 14 Miami (FL) No. 13 Boshamer Stadium W 9–8 (11) Pry (1–0) Gallo (0–3) None 3,054 24–11 9–6
April 15 Miami (FL) No. 13 Boshamer Stadium L 3–4 Chestnutt (3–0) Knapp (3–3) Torres (2) 3,694 24–12 9–7
April 18 Charlotte* No. 18 Boshamer Stadium W 5–3 Pence (2–1) Kramer (2–3) Eaise (5) 2,959 25–12 –
April 21 No. 20 Boston College No. 18 Boshamer Stadium L 8–9 (10) Roman (2–0) Eaise (2–3) Tonghini (2) 4,012 25–13 9–8
April 22 No. 20 Boston College No. 18 Boshamer Stadium L 4–9 Coon (1–0) Berkwich (2–2) Ryan (2) 2,991 25–14 9–9
April 23 No. 20 Boston College No. 18 Boshamer Stadium L 2–6 Schroeder (5–2) Padgett (2–1) None 3,595 25–15 9–10
April 25 UNCW* Boshamer Stadium W 18–2 Pence (3–1) Lawson (1–1) None 2,427 26–15 –
April 28 at Virginia Tech English Field
Blacksburg, VA		 0–7 Arguelles (2–1) Bovair (4–2) None 658 26–16 9–11
April 29 at Virginia Tech English Field W 12–8 Carlson (3–1) Hackenberg (4–5) Poston (3) 2,231 27–16 10–11
April 29 at Virginia Tech English Field W 13–7 Peterson (2–0) Higgins (2–2) None 2,363 28–16 11–11
May (5–5)
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACC Record
May 2 No. 13 Campbell* Boshamer Stadium L 5–6 Cummings (3–1) Poston (2–2) Rund (5) 3,163 28–17 –
May 3 at No. 14 East Carolina* Clark–LeClair Stadium W 2–1 Pence (4–1) Hunter (3–2) Carlson (1) 5,991 29–17 –
May 9 Gardner–Webb* Boshamer Stadium W 5–4 Eaise (3–3) Fox (3–3) Poston (4) 2,955 30–17 –
May 11 NC State Boshamer Stadium W 9–8 Poston (3–2) Fritton (3–4) None 3,242 31–17 12–11
May 12 NC State Boshamer Stadium W 9–3 Carlson (5–3) Willadsen (5–4) None 3,584 32–17 13–11
May 13 NC State Boshamer Stadium W 12–2 Knapp (4–3) Highfill (5–2) None 3,502 33–17 14–11
May 16 at No. 8 Coastal Carolina* Springs Brooks Stadium
Conway, SC		 L 6–8 Billings (2–0) Bovair (4–3) Sharkey (7) 2,322 33–18 –
May 18 at No. 7 Clemson Doug Kingsmore Stadium
Clemson, SC		 L 7–14 Clayton (7–0) Carlson (4–2) None 4,102 33–19 14–12
May 19 at No. 7 Clemson Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 4–5 Ammons (2–0) Poston (3–3) None 4,644 33–20 14–13
May 20 at No. 7 Clemson Doug Kingsmore Stadium L 3–1 Grice (7–1) Pence (4–2) Hughes (2) 4,589 33–21 14–14
Postseason
ACC Tournament (2–1)
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record ACCT Record
May 23 vs. (11) Georgia Tech (7) Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Durham, NC		 W 11–5 Peterson (3–0) King (6–2) Poston (5) 2,048 34–21 1–0
May 25 No. 12 (2) Virginia (7) Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Durham, NC		 W 10–2 Knapp (5–3) Early (10–2) Pence (1) 4,084 35–21 2–0
May 27 No. 6 Clemson (7) Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Durham, NC		 L 4–10 Grice (8–1) Bovair (4–4) None 3,147 35–22 2–1
Date Opponent Rank Site/Stadium Score Win Loss Save Attendance Overall Record NCAAT Record
June 2 vs. (2) Iowa (3) Sycamore Stadium
Terre Haute, IN		 L 4–5 Marcus (5–2) Knapp (5–4) Llewellyn (4) 1,690 35–23 0–1
June 3 vs. (4) Wright State (3) Sycamore Stadium
Terre Haute, IN		 W 5–0 Carlson (5–2) Stofel (5–6) Pence (2) 1,624 36–23 1–1
June 4 vs. (2) Iowa (3) Sycamore Stadium
Terre Haute, IN		 L 5–6 (13) Christophers (5–1) Pence (4–3) None 1,377 36–24 1–2

Rankings from D1Baseball

Rankings

See also: 2023 NCAA Division I baseball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314151617Final
Coaches'[3]1212*2117201614151316RVRVRVRVRVRVRV*RV*RV
Baseball America[4]17162219211915161317———————*—*—
Collegiate Baseball^[5]11132121252118141417—————————
NCBWA†[6]1314191719151416131425RVRVRVRVRVRVRV*RV
D1Baseball[7]12121314181513141318———————*—*—

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References

  1. ^ "Baseball Standings". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "2023 Baseball Roster". UNC Athletics. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Baseball Coaches Poll
  4. ^ Baseball America College: Top 25
  5. ^ NCAA DIV I Baseball Polls-Collegiate Baseball Newspaper
  6. ^ NCBWA Division I poll
  7. ^ Division 1 Baseball Rankings
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