By R.L. Bynum
CHAPEL HILL — The final exams break is a good time to give North Carolina a midseason grade, and the No. 11 Tar Heels are earning high marks.
They lead the Coastal Division by three games and are tied for the best league record in the ACC, which D1 Baseball projects to earn nine NCAA tournament berths.
Carolina coach Scott Forbes stopped short of saying it’s the best he’s felt at the exam break as the Tar Heels, No. 6 in the RPI, are 35–11 and 17–7 in the ACC.
“We’ve had some really good teams here,” said Forbes, whose team entered the break with consecutive 10-run-rule victories. “But yeah, it’s a good group; I feel good about it.”
UNC is already one win shy of last season’s overall win total and has the best record at the break since 2017.
Winning that many games before the break doesn’t prove a Tar Heels team is good enough to end up in Omaha. The 2017 team was 37–9 at the break and got upset in the Chapel Hill Regional. The 2019 team was 34–12 at the break and won the ACC title but lost in the Super Regionals.
But history suggests big possibilities for Carolina teams playing so well before final exams.
Since 2005, all other UNC teams with at least 32 wins at the exam break made the College World Series — 2006 (39–8), 2007 (37–10), 2008 (38–8), 2009 (35–11), 2011 (33–10), 2013 (42–4) and 2018 (32–13).
“This time of year, historically for us, is go time,” Forbes said. “Thankfully, we’ve been in a good position where you’re really trying to solidify [being a] potential host or solidify a national seed.”
The 2006 team is the only one of the seven CWS teams that wasn’t a top-eight national seed, and D1Baseball projects this season’s team as a “secure” top-eight seed, slotting UNC at No. 6.
Of course, that comes with the right to host the regional round and, with a win there, the Super Regionals round. That’s a world of difference from last season when the NCAA committee sent the Tar Heels to the Terre Haute Regional.
If there are numbers that might lead to concerns in NCAA tournament or possibly ACC tournament play, it’s UNC’s 6–8 record against teams in the top 25 of the RPI. The Tar Heels are 8–3 against teams 26 to 50 in the RPI and are 21–0 against all other opponents.
No. 2 Clemson (also No. 4 in the RPI) and No. 8 Florida State (No. 5 in the RPI) aren’t on UNC’s schedule. Half of those top-25 RPI wins came in the Tar Heels’ sweep at No. 12 Wake Forest (No. 13 in the RPI) on March 29–31.
There are tough tests ahead, starting with Tuesday’s 6 p.m. home game against Campbell (27–19). The Camels have lost six straight games, though, after getting swept in a weekend series at UNCW, losing 8–7, 7–4 and 14–7.
The Camels, who lost at home to UNC 7–3 on March 5, split two games with No. 10 Duke (losing in Durham 11–1 on March 26 and winning 18–4 at home on April 23 in a 10-run-rule-shortened game) and beat No. 20 N.C. State (11–7 in 12 innings on April 16).
Next week, starting Friday, May 10, UNC faces Louisville (29–18, 13–11), which has won four straight games and will be hungry since it’s on the NCAA bubble, according to D1 Baseball.
The Tar Heels finish the regular season with a huge road series on May 16–18 against Duke.
Carolina’s accomplishments are a remarkable testament to the team’s pitching depth. UNC leads the ACC and is 11th in the country with a 4.02 team ERA.
Before Opening Day, the Tar Heels lost ace senior right-hander Jake Knapp to an ulnar collateral ligament injury. Freshman left-hander Folger Boaz (3–1, 5.77 ERA) had taken over as the top starter before going down with a season-ending left-elbow injury on April 9 against South Carolina.
The Tar Heels have rolled in the last three ACC series with a solid weekend rotation of three 3–1 pitchers — freshman right-hander Jason DeCaro (3.86 ERA, 27 walks, 51 strikeouts), junior Elon transfer left-hander Shea Sprague (3.40 ERA, 9 walks, 45 strikeouts) and junior Fayetteville Tech transfer right-hander Aidan Haugh (3.47 ERA, 16 walks, 42 strikeouts).
Even though Forbes had to take away a valuable bullpen option in Haugh when Boaz got hurt, the relievers have been particularly solid of late.
Bullpen stalwarts are sophomore right-hander Matthew Matthijs (11–3, 3.60 ERA, 16 walks, 42 strikeouts; the national wins leader), redshirt sophomore left-hander Dalton Pence (2–1, 1.75 ERA, 19 walks, 46 strikeouts, 5 saves), senior right-hander Matt Poston (2–2, 5.63 ERA, 14 walks, 32 strikeouts, 4 saves), sophomore left-hander Kyle Percival (4–0, 1.71 ERA, 9 walks, 20 strikeouts) and senior right-hander Connor Bovair (1–1, 2.42 ERA, 6 walks, 24 strikeouts, 1 save).
The influx of talent in the offseason has meant that three players who started most of last season — second baseman Jackson Van De Brake, left fielder Patrick Alvarez and third baseman Johnny Castagnozzi — have moved to reserve roles.
Newcomers in the lineup are freshman third baseman Gavin Gallaher (team-leading .374 batting average — 9th in the ACC — with five homers), senior Georgia transfer first baseman Parks Harber (.366, 17 homers, team-high 51 RBI), graduate Arcadia transfer second baseman Alex Madera (.331, 8 steals, .988 fielding percentage), graduate Quinnipiac transfer right fielder Anthony Donofrio (.291, 4 homers, 33 RBI, 16 steals, .970 fielding percentage) and freshman catcher Luke Stephenson (.268, 10 homers, 42 RBI.)
“It’s a great mix, and we’re playing two freshmen,” Forbes said. “The transfers, like Donofrio, he’s dying to play in the postseason. That’s why he wanted to come to school at North Carolina.”
They joined a solid corps of returning starters, led by junior center fielder Vance Honeycutt (.330, team-high 18 homers, 50 RBI, team-high 26 steals and a .985 fielding percentage), who is the only player in ACC history with at least 50 home runs (55) and at least 70 steals (74).
UNC is the only team in the country with two players on its current roster with 50 career home runs: Honeycutt and Harber (51). Honeycutt has a hit in 12 of the last 13 games, with 26 hits, eight home runs and 20 RBI during that span. Harber has at driven in a run in nine consecutive games, driving in 16 runs during that streak.
Other starters back from last year are redshirt sophomore left fielder Casey Cook (.341, 13 homers, team-high 60 RBI, 1.000 fielding percentage), senior shortstop Colby Wilkerson (.290, .917 fielding percentage) and senior designated hitter Alberto Osuna (.305,11 homers, 42 RBI).
Last week, Forbes shifted Honeycutt to the leadoff spot in a rejiggered order that alternates throughout from right-handed hitters to left-handed hitters until Wilkerson, the switch-hitting nine-hole hitter. Cook and Harber each moved up one spot to second and third, respectively, with Madera and Stevenson swapping spots as Madera is now hitting sixth and Stevenson eighth.
“We have a lot of returners that lost to Arkansas at home in the Super Regional and got that taste of being so close,” Forbes said of the 2022 team. “Even though they won that ACC championship, they want to get back in that spot.
“So, they’re telling all these guys, ‘Here’s how we get there,’ ” Forbes said. “So it’s a great mix, and it makes me feel good because we’ve got guys that — if we do get to that point — they’ve been to regionals. They’ve been in the big games, and I have got trust we’re going to get to it.”
The outfield range of Honeycutt and Donofrio has saved UNC numerous runs, and Cook has also made some big plays. The middle-infield combination of Wilkeson and Madera has helped UNC turn 34 double plays.
There is speed sprinkled throughout the lineup, as the Tar Heels are second in the ACC in steals with 73.
It could be a memorable May and June for the Tar Heels.
Tar Heels at the exam break
| Season | Record at exam break | Final record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 35–11 | ??? | ??? |
| 2023 | 29–17 | 36–24 | Lost in Terre Haute Regional |
| 2022 | 24–17 | 42–2 | ACC champions; Lost in Super Regional |
| 2021 | 21–21 | 28–27 | Lost in Lubbock Regional |
| 2019 | 34–12 | 46–19 | ACC champions; Lost in Super Regional |
| 2018 | 32–13 | 44–20 | College World Series; No. 6 seed |
| 2017 | 37–9 | 49–14 | No. 2 seed; Lost in Chapel Hill Regional |
| 2016 | 28–15 | 34–21 | |
| 2015 | 29–16 | 34–24 | |
| 2014 | 27–19 | 35–27 | Lost in Gainsville Regional |
| 2013 | 42–4 | 59–12 | ACC champions, College World Series; No. 1 seed |
| 2012 | 30–13 | 46–16 | Lost in Chapel Hill Regional |
| 2011 | 33–10 | 51–16 | College World Series; No. 3 seed |
| 2010 | 27–17 | 38–22 | Lost in Norman Regional |
| 2009 | 35–11 | 48–18 | College World Series; No. 4 seed |
| 2008 | 38–8 | 54–14 | College World Series; No. 2 seed |
| 2007 | 37–10 | 57–16 | ACC champions, College World Series; No. 3 seed |
| 2006 | 39–8 | 54–15 | College World Series |
UNC season statistics
ACC standings
| League | GB | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 16 Georgia Tech | 19–11 | — | 39–16 |
| No. 6 Florida State | 17–10 | ½ | 37–13 |
| No. 3 North Carolina | 18–11 | ½ | 39–12 |
| No. 22 N.C. State | 17–11 | 1 | 33–18 |
| No. 14 Clemson | 18–12 | 1 | 41–15 |
| Virginia | 16–11 | 1½ | 32–17 |
| Duke | 17–13 | 2 | 36–18 |
| Wake Forest | 16–14 | 3 | 36–19 |
| Miami | 15–14 | 3½ | 31–23 |
| No. 21 Louisville | 15–15 | 4 | 35–20 |
| Notre Dame | 14–16 | 5 | 32–20 |
| Virginia Tech | 12–18 | 7 | 30–24 |
| Boston College | 11–19 | 8 | 26–28 |
| Stanford | 11–19 | 8 | 27–24 |
| Pittsburgh | 10–20 | 9 | 27–26 |
| California | 9–21 | 10½ | 22–30 |
Thursday-Saturday series
No. 16 Georgia Tech at Duke: Thursday: GT 7–6; Friday: Duke 14–4 (7 innings); Saturday: GT 8–2
No. 14 Clemson at Pittsburgh: Clemson swept 6–1, 11–2 and 13–6
Virginia at Virginia Tech: Thursday: Va. 12–2; Friday: VT 5–4; Saturday: Va. 3–1
Stanford at No. 22 N.C. State: Thursday: State 7–2: Friday: Stanford 4–3, 10 innings; Saturday: Stanford 6–3
Wake Forest at Louisville: Thursday: WF 14–4; Friday: WF 5–4; Saturday: UL 14–9
No. 3 North Carolina at No. 6 Florida State: Thursday: UNC 8–3: Friday: UNC 11–1, 7 innings; Saturday: FSU 5–4
Notre Dame at Miami: Thursday: ND 3–2; Friday: Miami 15–1, 7 innings: Saturday: ND 12–2
Boston College at California: Thursday: Cal 8–6; Friday: BC 10–9; Saturday: Cal 4–3, 10 innings
UNC scores
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Times | Opponent (current rank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| February | |||
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sat. | 4, noon, 1 | vs. Indiana |
| 17 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Richmond |
| 18 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Longwood |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun. | 4 (Greenville), 2 (DBAP), 2 (CH) | vs. East Carolina |
| 24 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. N.C. A&T |
| 25 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. VCU |
| 27–28 | Fri., Sat. | 4 p.m., 2 p.m. | vs. Le Moyne |
| March | |||
| 1 | Sunday | 1 p.m. | vs. Le Moyne |
| 3 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Elon |
| 6–8 | Fri.-Sun. | 4, 2, 1 | vs. Virginia |
| 10 | Tuesday | 4 p.m. | vs. Bucknell |
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sun. | 9, 5, 4 | at California |
| 18 | Wednesday | 4 p.m. | vs. UNCG |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun. | 8, 2, 1 | vs. No. 8 Louisville |
| 24 | Tuesday | 6:30 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte |
| 27–29 | Fri.-Sun. | 6:30, 3, 1 | at Notre Dame |
| 31 | Tuesday | 8 p.m. | vs. Campbell |
| April | |||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | 6, 6, 2 | vs. Boston College |
| 7 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. Charlotte |
| 10–12 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, 2, 12:30 | at No. 19 Clemson |
| 14 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. UNCW |
| 17–19 | Fri-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 | vs. No. 5 Georgia Tech |
| 21 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | vs. High Point |
| 23–25 | Fri.-Sun. | 7, 6, 3 | at Duke |
| 28 | Tuesday | 7 p.m. | vs. No. 6 Coastal Carolina |
| 29 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Queens |
| May | |||
| 3 | Sunday | 2 p.m. (non-conference game) | vs. Duke |
| 6 | Wednesday | 6 p.m. | vs. Winthrop |
| 8–10 | Fri.-Sun. | 6, noon, 1 | vs. Pittsburgh |
| 12 | Tuesday | 6 p.m. | at UNCW |
| 14–16 | Thurs.-Sat. | 7, 6, 1 | at No. 17 N.C. State |
| 19–24 | Tues.-Sun. | ACC tournament | Charlotte |
| 29–31 | Fri.-Sun. | NCAA Regionals | Campus sites |
| June | |||
| 5–7 | Fri.-Sun. | NCAA Super Regionals | Campus sites |
| 12–22 | Fri.-Mon | College World Series | Omaha, Neb. |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics by Ainsley Fauth; graphic via @DiamondHeels
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