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DURHAM — In a battle of Omaha-quality teams with two of the best closers in the country, Coach Scott Forbes wasn’t about to let Vance Honeycutt’s lead-off single in the ninth inning get wasted in a tie game. He gave Casey Cook the bunt sign for the first time this season. What it lacked in execution, it made up in the outcome as the No. 7 Tar Heels used a pair of ninth-inning runs to beat No. 11 Duke 6–4 to clinch the No. 1 seed in next week’s ACC tournament.
This Carolina-Duke battle won’t be in Cameron Indoor Stadium but in an even older venue a short walk away, with the stakes and caliber typical of the rivals’ basketball battles. The No. 7 Tar Heels (39–11, 20–7 ACC) and No. 11 Blue Devils (36–16, 15–12) will meet in baseball at Jack Coombs Field — which opened in 1931, nine years before Cameron — for the first time in 10 years.
North Carolina jumped four spots in the D1 Baseball Top 25 to a season-best No. 7 after going 4–0 and clinching the ACC Coastal Division title. It’s the Tar Heels’ highest ranking in that poll since they were No. 3 on March 3, 2019. UNC is No. 4 in the Baseball America poll.
CHAPEL HILL — There’s been no place like home for No. 11 North Carolina, which makes a possible top-eight seed in the NCAA tournament golden for the Tar Heels. With a three-game sweep of Louisville after winning Sunday’s finale 16–7, UNC finished 32–2 at Boshamer Stadium for the most regular-season home wins in five years, and a program-record 14 ACC home wins.
CHAPEL HILL — When a starter’s outing doesn’t go well, No. 11 North Carolina’s bullpen usually offers relief. That was the case Saturday when the Tar Heels got their best bullpen performance in an ACC game in nearly a month. They clinched the weekend series with a 6–4 victory over Louisville.
CHAPEL HILL — Carolina fans may never see another Tar Heel quite like sensational center fielder Vance Honeycutt, and that appreciation came through with loud cheers when he was recognized between innings as the program’s all-time home run leader.
CHAPEL HILL — The first game after the final exam break can get crazy, and No. 11 North Carolina’s clash with Campbell graded high on the craziness scale on a night that Vance Honeycutt blasted to the edge of more history.
After a pair of blowout nonconference victories last week, North Carolina moved up one spot to No. 11 in the D1 Baseball Top 25.
CHAPEL HILL — It’s a testament to No. 12 North Carolina’s depth and the influx of offseason talent that three starters from a year ago, including a co-captain who was second-team All-ACC last season, have had trouble getting onto the field.Senior infielder Jackson Van De Brake got his chance Wednesday and didn’t waste it. He came off the bench to hit a grand slam to left field in the fourth inning as UNC walloped William & Mary 19–2 at Boshamer Stadium.
CHAPEL HILL — Cameron Padgett is thankful for each day he can pitch for Carolina, knowing it can be taken away at any moment. The 6–3 sophomore right-hander has a tattoo reading “Fighter” as a tribute to a close friend and longtime teammate on showcase baseball teams who knows that all too well.
CHAPEL HILL — Vance Honeycutt was back in the leadoff spot after an early-afternoon conversation with Coach Scott Forbes. He might become a fixture at the top of the order, particularly with many games like Tuesday night.
Carolina honored the best athletes and performances of the last year at the annual Rammys on Monday night. The top male and female athletes were no surprise, as All-American guard R.J. Davis and four-time NCAA championship diver Aranza Vazquez took home the top honors.
After taking two of three games in a weekend series against Virginia Tech during a 3–1 week, North Carolina moved up three spots to No. 12 in the D1 Baseball Top 25. The Tar Heels (33–11, 17–7 ACC) lead the ACC Coastal Division by three games over No. 11 Virginia (33–12, 14–10), which moved up three spots after a 3–1 week, and No. 10 Duke (30–14, 14–10), which fell six spots after a 1–3 week.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina’s pitching mostly held Virginia Tech’s offense in check again, but the No. 15 Tar Heels couldn’t get enough big hits to back that up.
CHAPEL HILL — One of the best offenses in the ACC has looked average so far this weekend against No. 15 North Carolina’s daunting combination of pitching and defense. Virginia Tech leads the league in homers, is fourth in batting average, and came into the series averaging 8.9 runs per game. But the Hokies have scored three or fewer runs in back-to-back games for the first time this season after losing 6–3 Saturday at Boshamer Stadium.
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