UNC ranked high in ‘way too early’ Baseball America Top 25

North Carolina is No. 12 on the “way-too-early” Top 25 list that Baseball America released on Wednesday. The Tar Heels, who went 48–16 last season and made the College World Series, are one of eight ACC teams on the list. They are one of five league teams in its top 12, along with No. 3 Florida State (49–17 last season), No. 4 Clemson (44–16), No. 6 Virginia (46–17) and No. 9 Duke (40–20).

UNC moves up in final D1 Baseball poll; Honeycutt, Forbes, Pence earn honors

After making a thrilling run to the Men’s College World Series, North Carolina moved up one spot to a season-high No. 5 in the final D1 Baseball Top 25 released on Wednesday as the honors keep rolling in for junior outfielder Vance Honeycutt. UNC slipped one spot to No. 4 in the final Baseball America poll and remained at a season-high No. 5 in the final USA Today coaches poll.

UNC’s Sprague, WVU’s Clark contrasting in stature but with similar pitching styles

CHAPEL HILL — The two starting pitchers in the Chapel Hill Super Regional opener are like mirror images, other than one being much taller than the other. UNC’s 6–3 junior left-hander Shea Sprague (3–1, 3.76 ERA) immediately noticed it when he watched a video of 5–7 West Virginia senior left-hander Derek Clark (8–2, 2.82 ERA), calling it “pretty uncanny.”

With two top starters and solid bullpen, UNC has pitching to make postseason run

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina’s pitching staff has thrown the Tar Heels for a loop many times this season, whether it be short outings from starters or early-season struggles from relievers. After dealing with little stability in the starting rotation most of the season, UNC coach Scott Forbes enters the NCAA tournament confident with the momentum from only two pitchers he knows will start this weekend and a bullpen that has been solid of late.