The UNC baseball team faced a tall task entering its own Regional this weekend, hosting a loaded group that included Tennessee, East Carolina and VCU. Plenty of pre-NCAA Tournament debate argued the Diamond Heels got a bad draw.
After three games, North Carolina emerged from its own regional virtually unscathed, winning all three of its games and advancing to host a Super Regional, for the third-consecutive season.
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UNC started the Chapel Hill Regional with an 8-0 domination of VCU on Friday afternoon, its second time beating the Rams in Boshamer Stadium this season. The Diamond Heels got a strong outing from usual Saturday starter Ryan Lynch, while three first-inning runs kickstarted their 12-hit evening.
The little adversity North Carolina faced over its weekend came Saturday evening, when it came from behind to beat ECU, 7-5.
UNC trailed by three runs after three innings, but a 3-spot in the fourth tied things up. Erik Paulsen and Jake Schaffner gave the Diamond Heels a 5-3 advantage, then Gavin Gallaher’s 2-run double proved the be the eventual game-winner. Caden Glauber improved to 10-0, pitching 4 1/3 innings of 2-run ball, while Walker McDuffie’s perfect ninth shut the door.
A 9-3, start-to-finish victory Sunday completed North Carolina’s sweep of the Chapel Hill Regional. UNC tagged Pirates starter Ryan Towers early, knocking him for five runs, while nearly ever hitter reached base.
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The Diamond Heels are Super Regional bound for a third-straight season, which fans will certainly pack Boshamer Stadium for. Let’s take a look at several post-Regional reactions below:
