GREENVILLE — Junior right-hander Jason DeCaro pitched a complete game for No. 11 North Carolina in a 10-0 win in eight innings at East Carolina on Friday.
DeCaro (2-0) scattered five hits while walking one and striking out seven as the Tar Heels improved to 6-0.
UNC got solo home runs from Erik Paulsen in the second and Cooper Nicholson in the third off of ECU starter Ethan Norby (0-1).
Gavin Gallaher had a 2-run double in the fourth for the visitors.
Nicholson had a 2-run double in a 4-run fifth.
Paulsen closed the scoring with an RBI double in the eighth.
Braden Burress was 3-for-4 to lead the Pirates (2-4). The Tar Heels had 12 hits as the Pirates used four pitchers.
The rivalry drew a crowd of 5,728.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
It is painfully evident the Pirates have a lot of work to do if their postseason aspirations are to come true. This team can be successful, but the Heels exposed every weakness of the Pirates.
Disregarding the top-ten ranking, UNC is a team in sync, and the Pirates are not. I believe the Pirates have all the puzzle pieces necessary to have a good season. UNC is far ahead of the Pirates in solving their puzzle. I hope I’m wrong, but this could be an ugly weekend.