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North Carolina is a top-four national seed in D1 Baseball’s latest NCAA tournament projection. The prediction lists the Tar Heels (41–12), who won the ACC Coastal Division and the No. 1 seed in the ACC tournament with the best league record (22–8), as the No. 4 overall seed, hosting Oregon, UNC Greensboro and Cornell in the Chapel Hill Regional.
By R.L. Bynum A Friday matchup between the last two ACC regular-season champions for a spot in the semifinals? That’s … More
How good is the ACC? No. 7-ranked North Carolina earned the No. 1 seed in the league tournament but will have to play the nation’s No. 8-ranked team in its pool. When No. 17-ranked N.C. State (32–19, 18–11 ACC) finished a three-game weekend sweep of No. 8-ranked Wake Forest, that earned the Wolfpack the No. 3 seed in the ACC tournament and bumped the Deacons to the No. 8 seed.
DURHAM — If there was any question about No. 7 North Carolina’s worthiness for a national seed in the NCAA tournament, the Tar Heels removed all doubt on Saturday. The Tar Heels pounded No. 11 Duke 14–6 before plenty of Carolina fans at Jack Coombs Field for their eighth win in the last nine games, heading into next week’s ACC tournament in Charlotte, where they will be the No. 1 seed.
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 — 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.
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.
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