University of North Carolina Athletics
Jackson Rose
Photo by: ISABEL O. SWINDALL
Lucas: West Virginia Rapid Reactions (G2)
June 17, 2026 | Baseball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the Wednesday game against West Virginia.
By Adam Lucas
1. For the first time since 2007, Carolina is into the national championship series. The Tar Heels defeated West Virginia, 12-7, and will face either Georgia or Oklahoma for the title.
2. Great time for the Tar Heel offense to explode. They pounded out 16 hits to get those 12 runs.
3. The key was in the 2-4 spots in the order, as Owen Hull, Gavin Gallaher, and Erik Paulsen combined to go 11-for-15, drive in seven runs, and score six runs.
4. The Heels set the tone early by being aggressive on the bases in the first inning. Jake Schaffner stole second to open up what felt like an important two-run first inning.
5. That inning paid dividends for a lineup change. Scott Forbes shook up his order Wednesday, dropping Macon Winslow to the eighth slot and vaulting Cooper Nicholson to fifth. The Heels also moved Owen Hull into the second spot for the first time since the opening game of the Chapel Hill Regional.
6. The aggressiveness on the bases wasn't always beneficial. The Heels had runners thrown out at third and at home in the third. Carolina still plated three runs in that frame, but it could have been an even bigger number without those adventures.
7. Folger Boaz got the start and gave way after one inning to freshman Jackson Rose, who was excellent. The lefty had the key outing in the game, going 4.1 innings and not allowing a run. Rose gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out two.
8. Matthew Matthijs also did a good job in relief, and then UNC eventually turned to Caden Glauber to close it out. The freshman wasn't as sharp as we have seen him this year, but he still went 2.1 innings and gave up only one run. He struck out three and walked one.
9. If you ever forget that speed can completely change a game, think about Armani Guzman in the five-run West Virginia seventh. The Mountaineers had two outs and nobody on when Guzman beat out a routine grounder to Cooper Nicholson, who was in the shortstop position in the shift. That play cracked the door for those five runs and made the feeling a little tense over the final couple of innings after it looked like the Heels were going to coast in.
10. Carolina now will sit back and wait for the outcome of Georgia and Oklahoma. The two teams play tonight, with the Bulldogs needing to win twice to advance. Naturally, the Heels would like those teams to exhaust as much pitching as possible. But for now, they'll enjoy a couple days off and the knowledge that they're going to play for a national championship.
1. For the first time since 2007, Carolina is into the national championship series. The Tar Heels defeated West Virginia, 12-7, and will face either Georgia or Oklahoma for the title.
2. Great time for the Tar Heel offense to explode. They pounded out 16 hits to get those 12 runs.
3. The key was in the 2-4 spots in the order, as Owen Hull, Gavin Gallaher, and Erik Paulsen combined to go 11-for-15, drive in seven runs, and score six runs.
4. The Heels set the tone early by being aggressive on the bases in the first inning. Jake Schaffner stole second to open up what felt like an important two-run first inning.
5. That inning paid dividends for a lineup change. Scott Forbes shook up his order Wednesday, dropping Macon Winslow to the eighth slot and vaulting Cooper Nicholson to fifth. The Heels also moved Owen Hull into the second spot for the first time since the opening game of the Chapel Hill Regional.
6. The aggressiveness on the bases wasn't always beneficial. The Heels had runners thrown out at third and at home in the third. Carolina still plated three runs in that frame, but it could have been an even bigger number without those adventures.
7. Folger Boaz got the start and gave way after one inning to freshman Jackson Rose, who was excellent. The lefty had the key outing in the game, going 4.1 innings and not allowing a run. Rose gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out two.
8. Matthew Matthijs also did a good job in relief, and then UNC eventually turned to Caden Glauber to close it out. The freshman wasn't as sharp as we have seen him this year, but he still went 2.1 innings and gave up only one run. He struck out three and walked one.
9. If you ever forget that speed can completely change a game, think about Armani Guzman in the five-run West Virginia seventh. The Mountaineers had two outs and nobody on when Guzman beat out a routine grounder to Cooper Nicholson, who was in the shortstop position in the shift. That play cracked the door for those five runs and made the feeling a little tense over the final couple of innings after it looked like the Heels were going to coast in.
10. Carolina now will sit back and wait for the outcome of Georgia and Oklahoma. The two teams play tonight, with the Bulldogs needing to win twice to advance. Naturally, the Heels would like those teams to exhaust as much pitching as possible. But for now, they'll enjoy a couple days off and the knowledge that they're going to play for a national championship.
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Wednesday, June 17
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