Heels Start Season Off Strong, Win 9-4 on Opening Day

North Carolina baseball team defeats Indiana in season opener

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team opened their 2026 season with a 9-4 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill. Starting pitcher Jason DeCaro threw five scoreless innings, and the Tar Heels broke open the game with a six-run sixth inning to secure the win.

Why it matters

This victory marks a strong start to the season for the Tar Heels, who are looking to build on their success from last year. The team's patient offense and consistent pitching staff appear to be keys to their early-season success.

The details

After a slow start offensively, the Tar Heels erupted for nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull away from the Hoosiers. Starter Jason DeCaro pitched five scoreless innings, striking out seven batters, to set the tone for the Tar Heels. In the sixth inning, the Tar Heels scored six runs, including a two-RBI triple from Gavin Gallaher and an RBI triple from Jake Schaffner.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • DeCaro threw 90 pitches over five scoreless innings to start the game.

The players

Jason DeCaro

The starting pitcher for the Tar Heels, who threw five scoreless innings and struck out seven batters.

Jake Schaffner

A Tar Heels player who hit an RBI triple in the sixth inning to help break the game open.

Gavin Gallaher

One of the team captains for the Tar Heels, who hit a two-RBI triple in the sixth inning.

Scott Forbes

The head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team.

Tony Neubeck

The starting pitcher for the Indiana Hoosiers.

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What they’re saying

“We did a great job of taking what we got: not swinging at too many balls and taking our walks. When we had the chance to execute and drive the runners in, we did a good job of that.”

— Jake Schaffner (247sports.com)

“[DeCaro] set the tone for us. When you have a guy like that on the mound, that's a veteran, it allows everyone to slow down a little bit.”

— Scott Forbes, UNC Coach (247sports.com)

What’s next

The Tar Heels will play a double-header against Indiana on Saturday, February 15, 2026, looking to complete a sweep of the opening series.

The takeaway

The Tar Heels' strong start to the season, fueled by their patient offense and consistent pitching, suggests they are poised for another successful campaign and could be a team to watch in college baseball this year.