University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH
Lucas: VCU Rapid Reactions
May 29, 2026 | Baseball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the Chapel Hill Regional opener for the Tar Heels.
By Adam Lucas
1. Huge Friday night for Carolina pitching, as Ryan Lynch, Walker McDuffie and Matthew Matthijs combined to deal the Heels' first NCAA Tournament shutout since last year's opener against Holy Cross. This one was an 8-0 victory over VCU. It's just the third NCAA Tournament shutout of the Scott Forbes era.
2. Carolina now advances to face East Carolina Saturday night at 5 p.m. in what should be an electric atmosphere at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels and Pirates split a three-game series 1-1-1 earlier this year.Â
3. ECU's pitching plans will be interesting. The Pirates won a 14-inning thriller over Tennessee on Friday afternoon, but had to use their top two weekend starting pitchers to do it. ECU had planned to hold star lefty Ethan Norby for the Saturday game, but he seems unlikely to be available for extensive work after throwing 65 pitches against the Vols. Still, at this time of year, it only takes one hot pitcher to change a game.
4. Two-out runs gave Carolina a big early boost. With two down in the first, Gavin Gallaher and Macon Winslow had back to back singles. Then Erik Paulsen powered a two-run double, and Cooper Nicholson's single scored Paulsen. Nicholson bashed a solo homer in the third to finish the early scoring.
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5. On a day when multiple one seeds struggled with four seeds, those early runs helped set the tone that the same storyline wouldn't happen at the Chapel Hill Regional.
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6. The UNC pitching staff got exactly what it needed from Lynch. The sophomore righty was hitting 99 miles per hour early in the game, He was still cooking on pitch 108--his season-high in pitches--when he recorded a strikeout at 96 miles per hour. Lynch gave up just two hits in his seven innings and struck out five. His effort combined with the UNC offense means the Tar Heel pitching staff goes into Saturday in pretty good shape.Â
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7. The biggest play behind Lynch came in the sixth, when two walks gave the Rams two on with one out. But as has been the case so many times this year, the Tar Heel defense came up with a key double play, as Cooper Nicholson fired to Paulsen for the 5-3 double play.Â
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8. Another great postseason crowd at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels are now 39-8 in the regional games they have hosted since 2006.
9. One note of interest: usual Tar Heel Sunday starter Folger Boaz ran down to the bullpen with the relievers during the game. You would assume that the game against ECU will be an everyone is available scenario, with Friday night ace Jason DeCaro getting the start. If the Heels can get to 2-0 in the regional--a huge advantage--Scott Forbes can choose from whoever is left to start the remaining games.
10. This is why his players love Scott Forbes. When Owen Hull ripped an eighth-inning RBI triple as part of a four-run inning, Forbes had to hit the deck in the third-base coaching box when it looked like the throw might sail in his direction. He went rolling up the line and then stood up with a wider grin than anyone. The video of that one is going to make the rounds in the clubhouse, but Forbes doesn't care as long as it's a victory.
11. Not going to lie: those words "VCU Rapid Reactions" brought up some bad memories. Luckily, this one turned out much happier than the last time those words were typed in March.
12. Carolina and ECU haven't met in the postseason since 2012. The Heels eliminated the Pirates 5-3 at Boshamer that year. Carolina also swept the Pirate visitors in the 2009 super-regional, but the quintessential meeting was a heart-thumping 11-10 Tar Heel win in 2007. The Heels used a three-run ninth-inning rally capped by a Dustin Ackley single to win that one, and Saturday promises a similarly intense atmosphere.
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1. Huge Friday night for Carolina pitching, as Ryan Lynch, Walker McDuffie and Matthew Matthijs combined to deal the Heels' first NCAA Tournament shutout since last year's opener against Holy Cross. This one was an 8-0 victory over VCU. It's just the third NCAA Tournament shutout of the Scott Forbes era.
2. Carolina now advances to face East Carolina Saturday night at 5 p.m. in what should be an electric atmosphere at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels and Pirates split a three-game series 1-1-1 earlier this year.Â
3. ECU's pitching plans will be interesting. The Pirates won a 14-inning thriller over Tennessee on Friday afternoon, but had to use their top two weekend starting pitchers to do it. ECU had planned to hold star lefty Ethan Norby for the Saturday game, but he seems unlikely to be available for extensive work after throwing 65 pitches against the Vols. Still, at this time of year, it only takes one hot pitcher to change a game.
4. Two-out runs gave Carolina a big early boost. With two down in the first, Gavin Gallaher and Macon Winslow had back to back singles. Then Erik Paulsen powered a two-run double, and Cooper Nicholson's single scored Paulsen. Nicholson bashed a solo homer in the third to finish the early scoring.
Â
5. On a day when multiple one seeds struggled with four seeds, those early runs helped set the tone that the same storyline wouldn't happen at the Chapel Hill Regional.
Â
6. The UNC pitching staff got exactly what it needed from Lynch. The sophomore righty was hitting 99 miles per hour early in the game, He was still cooking on pitch 108--his season-high in pitches--when he recorded a strikeout at 96 miles per hour. Lynch gave up just two hits in his seven innings and struck out five. His effort combined with the UNC offense means the Tar Heel pitching staff goes into Saturday in pretty good shape.Â
Â
7. The biggest play behind Lynch came in the sixth, when two walks gave the Rams two on with one out. But as has been the case so many times this year, the Tar Heel defense came up with a key double play, as Cooper Nicholson fired to Paulsen for the 5-3 double play.Â
Â
8. Another great postseason crowd at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels are now 39-8 in the regional games they have hosted since 2006.
9. One note of interest: usual Tar Heel Sunday starter Folger Boaz ran down to the bullpen with the relievers during the game. You would assume that the game against ECU will be an everyone is available scenario, with Friday night ace Jason DeCaro getting the start. If the Heels can get to 2-0 in the regional--a huge advantage--Scott Forbes can choose from whoever is left to start the remaining games.
10. This is why his players love Scott Forbes. When Owen Hull ripped an eighth-inning RBI triple as part of a four-run inning, Forbes had to hit the deck in the third-base coaching box when it looked like the throw might sail in his direction. He went rolling up the line and then stood up with a wider grin than anyone. The video of that one is going to make the rounds in the clubhouse, but Forbes doesn't care as long as it's a victory.
11. Not going to lie: those words "VCU Rapid Reactions" brought up some bad memories. Luckily, this one turned out much happier than the last time those words were typed in March.
12. Carolina and ECU haven't met in the postseason since 2012. The Heels eliminated the Pirates 5-3 at Boshamer that year. Carolina also swept the Pirate visitors in the 2009 super-regional, but the quintessential meeting was a heart-thumping 11-10 Tar Heel win in 2007. The Heels used a three-run ninth-inning rally capped by a Dustin Ackley single to win that one, and Saturday promises a similarly intense atmosphere.
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