University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, May 9
Chapel Hill
12 PM
North Carolina
39-9-1, 19-7
12
vs
Pitt
28-20, 10-16
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pitt | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 0 |
Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH
Diamond Heels Run Rule Pitt, 12-2, To Claim Eighth-Straight Series Win
May 9, 2026 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The bats poured the runs in late to see Carolina baseball to an eight inning, 12-2 run-rule victory to secure the series against Pitt on Saturday afternoon in Boshamer Stadium.
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The No. 2 Tar Heels (39-9-1, 19-7 ACC) have now won each of their last eight ACC weekend since dropping their first against Virginia, beating three ranked and two more top-50 RPI teams along the way. It is the longest streak of series wins under head coach Scott Forbes and the program's best since 2017.
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The victory today guaranteed the reigning champions a spot in the quarterfinals of this year's ACC Tournament with a double bye now officially waiting for them in Charlotte in two weeks. UNC still sits two games back of Georgia Tech for the No. 1 seed.
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It was a relatively slow start for Carolina at the high noon first pitch. Starter Ryan Lynch had to work his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the first by getting a 1-2-3 GDP and a 1-3 groundout from consecutive batters.
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The big sophomore settled in after that initial scare, adding his fourth win of the season with 6.0 innings pitched, three strikeouts, two runs, and six hits. He was relieved by classmate Walker McDuffie who threw 2.0 flawless frames, not allowing a baserunner.
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But the big highlights came from the offense who put up their 12 runs on nine hits, five for extra bases, four sac-flies, and seven walks to just five strikeouts. Every starter except for Macon Winslow scored in the game and Winslow was one of the seven who added an RBI.
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The two HBPs on the day also put the team at 90 on the year, the most in a single season in program history surpassing 2013 (stats go back to 1982).
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Leadoff man Jake Schaffner drove in Carolina's first run with a ground rule double off the wall in center that had it stayed in play would have been at least a stand up triple if not more. The junior shortstop reached safely in his last five plate appearances, knocking two doubles with three walks to boot.
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Schaffner's competition for player of the game was his infield neighbor Cooper Nicholson. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native launched his third home run in his last four games with a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth. He leads the Heels with 13 on the year. He would also add one more RBI with a single in the seventh.
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Nicholson was then brought home by UNC's second long ball of the game, this time off the bat of Tyler Howe. The freshman took a ball 370 feet to right for his third of the year and first in Boshamer Stadium since he tied the game in the bottom of the ninth against Virginia.
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The Tar Heels will make their way back to the Bosh on Sunday at 1 p.m. looking for their first home conference sweep of the year. It will also be the team's Senior Day, with festivities honoring the graduates set to begin around 30 minutes before first pitch.
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The No. 2 Tar Heels (39-9-1, 19-7 ACC) have now won each of their last eight ACC weekend since dropping their first against Virginia, beating three ranked and two more top-50 RPI teams along the way. It is the longest streak of series wins under head coach Scott Forbes and the program's best since 2017.
Â
The victory today guaranteed the reigning champions a spot in the quarterfinals of this year's ACC Tournament with a double bye now officially waiting for them in Charlotte in two weeks. UNC still sits two games back of Georgia Tech for the No. 1 seed.
Â
It was a relatively slow start for Carolina at the high noon first pitch. Starter Ryan Lynch had to work his way out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the first by getting a 1-2-3 GDP and a 1-3 groundout from consecutive batters.
Â
The big sophomore settled in after that initial scare, adding his fourth win of the season with 6.0 innings pitched, three strikeouts, two runs, and six hits. He was relieved by classmate Walker McDuffie who threw 2.0 flawless frames, not allowing a baserunner.
Â
But the big highlights came from the offense who put up their 12 runs on nine hits, five for extra bases, four sac-flies, and seven walks to just five strikeouts. Every starter except for Macon Winslow scored in the game and Winslow was one of the seven who added an RBI.
Â
The two HBPs on the day also put the team at 90 on the year, the most in a single season in program history surpassing 2013 (stats go back to 1982).
Â
Leadoff man Jake Schaffner drove in Carolina's first run with a ground rule double off the wall in center that had it stayed in play would have been at least a stand up triple if not more. The junior shortstop reached safely in his last five plate appearances, knocking two doubles with three walks to boot.
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Schaffner's competition for player of the game was his infield neighbor Cooper Nicholson. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native launched his third home run in his last four games with a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth. He leads the Heels with 13 on the year. He would also add one more RBI with a single in the seventh.
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Nicholson was then brought home by UNC's second long ball of the game, this time off the bat of Tyler Howe. The freshman took a ball 370 feet to right for his third of the year and first in Boshamer Stadium since he tied the game in the bottom of the ninth against Virginia.
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The Tar Heels will make their way back to the Bosh on Sunday at 1 p.m. looking for their first home conference sweep of the year. It will also be the team's Senior Day, with festivities honoring the graduates set to begin around 30 minutes before first pitch.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lynch, Ryan (4-4)
L: Reiter, Brandon (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Ligenza, Mason 1 ; Dierdorf, Carter 1
RBI: Ligenza, Mason 1 ; Dierdorf, Carter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ligenza, Mason 1 ; Dierdorf, Carter 1
SB: Fenderson, Trey 1
HBP: Carrier, Lorenzo 2
Batting:
2B: Schaffner, Jake 2 ; Hynek, Colin 1
HR: Nicholson, Cooper 1 ; Howe, Tyler 1
RBI: Nicholson, Cooper 3 ; Schaffner, Jake 2 ; Gallaher, Gavin 2 ; Winslow, Macon 1 ; Hull, Owen 1 ; Howe, Tyler 2 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
SH: French, Carter 1
SF: Gallaher, Gavin 2 ; Winslow, Macon 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nicholson, Cooper 2 ; Schaffner, Jake 3 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1 ; Hull, Owen 1 ; Howe, Tyler 1 ; French, Carter 1 ; Hynek, Colin 2 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
SB: Schaffner, Jake 1
HBP: French, Carter 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
Players Mentioned
OF/1B
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RHP
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RHP
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INF
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INF
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