Lynch Pitches Gem, Tar Heels Blank VCU In NCAA Opener, 8-0

Friday, May 29

Chapel Hill

6 PM ET

North Carolina

46-11-1

VCU

37-24

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
VCU	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
North Carolina	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	4	X	8	12	0

Photo by: NATE SKVORETZ

May 29, 2026 | Baseball

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 5 national seed North Carolina shut out its opponent for a second straight year in the NCAA Regional opener, earning an 8-0 victory over VCU on Friday night from Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. With his 15th start of the year, Ryan Lynch pitched seven innings, allowing only two hits on 108 pitches.

The Diamond Heels (46-11-1, 22-8 ACC) got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first, plating three runs, tying the most runs scored in the first frame of a regional opener since 2013 when the Tar Heels faced Canisius. They now move to 3-1 in NCAA Tournament play against VCU and 29-7 overall.

Gavin Gallaher ignited Carolina with a two-out single up the middle to get on base first. Erik Paulsen then scored a double to bring home both Gallaher and Macon Winslow to put the Heels up early. Cooper Nicholson added another run with his base hit to left field, striding to a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third inning, Nicholson went yard, hitting a 355-foot blast to left field. It marked his 16th home run of the year, putting North Carolina ahead 4-0.

At the top of the sixth, VCU got its leadoff hitter on base for the first time in the contest. Despite two walks allowed by Lynch, the top-10 rated UNC defense came in clutch once again with a double play from Paulsen and Nicholson to retire the side.

Lynch concluded his time on the mound by recording five strikeouts in his 7.0 inning outing and throwing 108 pitches, the most in a single game in his career.

In the bottom of the eighth with two Tar Heels aboard, Jake Schaffner singled to right-center field, scoring Colin Hynek from second base. Owen Hull then batted a triple down the right field line to score Schaffner, extending the Tar Heel lead 6-0. Pushing the pace, Gallaher singled down the left side of the infield to score Hull. Gallaher then stole both second and made his way third on a ground out, lining himself up to score off another RBI single from Paulsen, his third run driven in of the day.

Walker McDuffie and Matthew Matthijs came in at the top of the eighth and ninth, respectively, to seal the 8-0 victory and finish off the shutout for Carolina.

The Tar Heels will face off against in-state foe East Carolina in the winners' bracket tomorrow night, with the first pitch slated for 5 p.m. ET. The game will be shown live on ACC Network.