University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
41-9-1
UNCW
28-23
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| UNCW | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 2 |
Diamond Heels Hit Season High Homers To Beat UNCW 13-7
May 12, 2026 | Baseball
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The No. 2 Tar Heels (41-9-1, 20-7 ACC) and the Seahawks played an explosive affair, combining for eight home runs with six going over 400 feet in the coastal wind. It was a season high four long balls for Carolina, who had topped out at three on five different occasions.
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In total, the Carolina offense racked up its 13 runs on 13 hits and six free passes. All nine members of the starting lineup recorded a hit and eight scored. The Heels are now 19-0 when reaching double digit runs in 2026.
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The captain led the way for Carolina with a three-run bomb to open the scoring in the top of the first. It's become a habit for the Heels' second baseman. He has launched six of his 10 homers this season in the opening inning.
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In the Heels' next frame at the plate, Owen Hull matched Gallaher's effort by demolishing a 466-foot laser beam all the way to the Seahawk's hitting facility beyond the center field fence. The moon shot went almost 40 feet further than the previous longest home run for Carolina on the year.
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Gallaher and Hull finished the day with four RBIs apiece. Home runs from Erik Paulsen and Colin Hynek provided the other runs driven in.
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Hynek's towering shot in the top of the ninth proved to be the final nail in the coffin of a pesky Seahawks team, who stayed within striking distance all night. UNC led 9-3 in the fourth, but UNCW kept chipping away keep things interesting until Hynek took the wind out of their sails. Â
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Carolina deployed five different arms against the Seahawks, combining for 12 strikeouts in the three hour and 52-minute-long Tuesday night contest.
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Veteran Matthew Matthijs picked up the win and did the bulk of the work for the UNC pitching staff. He recorded four strikeouts in his 3.1 innings with two hits, one run, and three walks.
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Lefty Tom Chmielewski entered in the eighth and logged 2.0 scoreless frames to slam the door. He sat down three along the way and only allowed one hit to secure his first save of the season.
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The Tar Heels will return to the Triangle, but remain on the road with a rivalry series ahead against NC State. Game one against the Wolfpack
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Matthijs, Matthew (3-0)
L: Thornton, Bromley (3-3)
S: Chmielewski, Tom (1)
Batting:
2B: Gallaher, Gavin 1 ; French, Carter 1
HR: Gallaher, Gavin 1 ; Hull, Owen 1 ; Hynek, Colin 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
RBI: Gallaher, Gavin 4 ; Hull, Owen 4 ; Hynek, Colin 2 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nicholson, Cooper 2 ; Schaffner, Jake 3 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1 ; Hull, Owen 2 ; Howe, Tyler 1 ; French, Carter 1 ; Hynek, Colin 2 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
SB: Howe, Tyler 1
CS: Hargett, Perry 1
HBP: Schaffner, Jake 1 ; French, Carter 1
Batting:
2B: Newton, John 1
HR: Lucas, Trevor 2 ; Nelson, Cole 1 ; Hughes, Mason 1
RBI: Lucas, Trevor 2 ; Nelson, Cole 2 ; Hughes, Mason 1 ; Bubenik, Matous 1 ; Newton, John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tyrrell, Will 1 ; Lucas, Trevor 2 ; Nelson, Cole 1 ; Hughes, Mason 1 ; Bechtel, Jake 1 ; Galaska, Ryker 1
SB: Bechtel, Jake 1
HBP: Hughes, Mason 1
