Covering Carolina athletics beyond men’s basketball and football, with dedicated reporting on women’s basketball and baseball, in addition to covering other sports that rarely draw media attention
CHARLOTTE — Jake Schaffner has been Carolina’s sparkplug at the top of the order all season and was the Tar Heels’ catalyst offensively on Friday. The shortstop blasted drives to the outfield wall for a double and a triple and drove in four runs as No. 2 UNC rallied to roll past No. 7-seed Virginia Tech 10–4 in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament at Truist Field.
It will likely be a battle of junior aces when No. 2 North Carolina meets Virginia Tech in the ACC tournament quarterfinals on Friday. UNC is expected to start All-ACC First Team pick Jason DeCaro (10–2, 2.03 ERA), with the Hokies likely countering with All-ACC Second Team pick Brett Renfrow (5–4, 4.65 ERA).
Freshman right-hander Caden Glauber earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors, and No. 2-ranked North Carolina led the league with eight players selected to All-ACC teams, which were announced on Monday.
RALEIGH — One game after everything went right for North Carolina, little went the Tar Heels’ way in their regular-season finale.
Against a hot pitcher, No. 2 UNC went from scoring 17 runs on Friday to only having four runners in scoring position, as N.C. State salvaged a game in the three-game series with a 7–2 victory at Doak Field on Saturday.
RALEIGH — No. 2 North Carolina hasn’t been a huge power team this season, but that may be changing with Owen Hull suddenly hitting mammoth shots. Hull crushed his second home run in as many games, one of two Tar Heels blasts on the night, as they eased by N.C. State 9–4 Thursday at Doak Field in the opener of a three-game series.
The home run derby was a draw, but No. 2 North Carolina prevailed in the game. UNC hit a season-high four home runs to knock off the Seahawks 13–7 on Tuesday at Brooks Field in Wilmington despite four UNCW home runs, the most by a Tar Heels opponent this season.
CHAPEL HILL — In finishing off a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh, No. 2 North Carolina followed a familiar pattern, getting strong performances from multiple pitchers and more than enough offense. Folger Boaz and Caden Glauber were impressive, Walker McDuffie got a clutch bases-loaded strikeout in the eighth inning, and Jackson Rose finished it off.
CHAPEL HILL — Cooper Nicholson’s glove and bat in the sixth inning steadied the game for No. 2 Carolina when the game could have swung Pittsburgh’s way. A terrific defensive play and a two-run home run by the junior third baseman in the sixth inning accelerated the Tar Heels’ 12–2 eight-inning victory Saturday at Boshamer Stadium, their 11th run-rule win of the season, to secure their sixth consecutive ACC series victory.
CHAPEL HILL — No. 2 Carolina rode pitching and power to come off the exam break impressively. Other than rustiness from ace reliever Walker McDuffie, the Tar Heels were dominant on the mound, as three solo home runs were more than enough to support impressive outings from right-handers Jason DeCaro and Caden Glauber.
CHAPEL HILL — Duke was like a boxer who got KO’d eight days earlier coming back for more. No. 2 North Carolina again had a withering offensive punch, with former Blue Devils star Macon Winslow delivering the biggest blows with a career-high five RBI to back shutdown pitching.
Michael Busch’s season has started to turn in the direction the Chicago Cubs expected, and Friday offered a clear snapshot of why. Busch, Arizona pitcher Zac Gallen and Seattle reliever Cooper Criswell are in the major leagues. There are 24 other Tar Heels in the minor leagues, along with seven others in non-affiliated leagues.
CHAPEL HILL — On the first day of final exams, No. 2 North Carolina had a rough night in a big test against a veteran opponent. No. 9 Coastal Carolina, the reigning national runner-up, handed the Tar Heels a 12–2 loss Tuesday at Boshamer Stadium, capitalizing on timely offense and sustained pressure against a pitching staff that struggled to stem the momentum.
DURHAM — The Carolina bats that were so quiet in the first two games at Duke turned thunderous in Saturday’s series finale. After going 27 innings without a home run, center fielder Owen Hull belted a three-run shot in No. 2 UNC’s seven-run fourth inning, and the Tar Heels rolled to a 22–5 run-rule victory at Jack Coombs Field.
DURHAM — Carolina got another outstanding pitching performance, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a big early mistake and consistently failing to get a big hit. Duke snapped its six-game losing streak by turning three double plays and forcing the Tar Heels to strand 11 runners on base in a 3–1 victory Friday at Jack Coombs Field to even the series.
DURHAM — In a night full of outstanding pitching, Carolina junior Jason DeCaro was the best. DeCaro was masterful in winning a duel with Duke starter Aidan Weaver as the No. 2 Tar Heels got just enough offense to earn a 3–1 victory Thursday night at Jack Coombs Field.
