Baseball Set For Annual Clash With South Carolina

Tuesday, March 24

Charlotte, N.C.

6:30 PM

North Carolina

South Carolina

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March 24, 2026 | Baseball

Game Notes

By: William Soulé

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Diamond Heels will make the short voyage to Charlotte for their annual face off with their south-of-the-border rivals South Carolina at Truist Field on Tuesday night.

The two programs have been going toe-to-toe every year at the home of the Charlotte Knights since 2016. Last season's win for the Tar Heels put them up 5-4 in the contests held in the Queen City with a +22 run differential across those nine matchups.

The all-time series dates back to 1903 with UNC holding a 67-39 advantage. The last time Carolina played against the Gamecocks outside of Charlotte was in the 2013 Chapel Hill Super Regional, where UNC advanced to Omaha by winning two of three by one run each.

SCHEDULE
Tuesday, March, 24 - 6:30 PM – ACCNX – Live Stats

No. 13 North Carolina Tar Heels (20-4-1)(6-3 ACC)
Head Coach: Scott Forbes
Record at UNC:220-108-1
Record vs. USC: 2-3

South Carolina Gamecocks (13-12)(1-5 SEC)
Interim Head Coach: Monte Lee
Record at USC: 1-1 (519-282 Career)
Record vs. UNC: 5-9

PROJECTED STARTERS
RHP Boston Flannery vs. RHP Connor Chicol

SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: UNC 67-39
Current Streak: W1
Chapel Hill: 38-18
Away: 22-13
Neutral Site: 7-8
First Meeting: April 18, 1903

GOT THE BETTER (OF THE) CARDS
➤ Carolina played a tight back and forth series with Louisville over the weekend, eventually coming from behind on Sunday to win two of three in dramatic fashion.
➤ Friday, in UNC's first night game of the season, the arms and bats combined for a convincing 11-1 eight inning run-rule capped off my Cooper Nicholson's two-run homer to end it.
➤ The Cards took Saturday's contest 2-0 in a classic pitcher's duel. The teams combined for just eight hits.
➤ Sunday was swung by a massive five-run eighth for Carolina that propelled them to a 7-6 win to take the series. Erik Paulsen's bases-clearing double was the difference maker. UNC scored all of its runs with two outs.
➤ The Heels kept Louisville's potent offense, that came in as fourth highest scoring in the nation, quiet all series. Nine runs was the fewest for the Cards in a weekend since May of 2023. It was also the least stolen bases Louisville recorded in a series (1) since March of 2024.

NON-CON COMBAT
➤ The Heels have compiled a 115-35-1 (.765) record in games against non-ACC opponents under Forbes. This team is currently 14-1-1 out of conference.
➤ Forbes and his teams are 7-8 in his six seasons against SEC competition.
➤ Last season, they were 25-4 against out of conference foes. The 2024 team was 24-6.
➤ Since 2020, UNC has won (or split) 13 of its 14 three-game non-conference weekend series with a 33-7-1 mark in that span.

APPOINTMENT TELEVISION
➤ Friday's game against Louisville was Carolina's first of the season to appear on linear TV. UNC is currently scheduled for 10 cable network selections, nine on ACC Network and one appearance on ESPN2.
➤ Carolina sits tied with Clemson for the most selections in the conference.
➤ It is already the most TV slots in program history before you factor in "Wildcard" spots and postseason fixtures that could add to that number.
➤ Last season, the Heels held a 12-4 record in TV games and were 8-1 in the regular season in such fixtures.