University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: NATE SKVORETZ
Lucas: USC Rapid Reactions (G1)
June 5, 2026 | Baseball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from the first game of the super regional.
By Adam Lucas
1. Southern Cal takes a 1-0 lead in the super-regional, getting some big swings after falling behind to seal a 9-5 victory. Carolina has scored first in 44 games this season. Friday was just the fourth time they've lost after putting the game's first runs on the board.
2. Just a stunning turnaround in the middle innings. Ryan Lynch appeared to be cruising, but ran into some trouble in the sixth. After 89 pitches on a very warm day, the Tar Heels pulled him for Walker McDuffie.
3. That decision will be much-talked about because of the result--Southern Cal soon got a game-changing grand slam from a .244 hitter and McDuffie was eventually done after three hits and four runs in a third of an inning. In the moment, though, it felt like the right choice. McDuffie is the guy who has gotten those outs for most of the last couple of months. Friday, he simply didn't get the same results.Â
4. Lynch was excellent. He threw 5.2 innings, walking none and striking out seven. That's the kind of start you need from your Friday pitcher in a super regional.Â
5. One of the reasons the baseball postseason can be so frustrating is how thin the margins are. On the batter before McDuffie gave up the grand slam, he delivered a 3-2 pitch that might have been called a strike at other junctures of the game but was ruled ball four in this instance. A couple pitches later, Southern Cal had the lead. The pitch in question was off the plate. The question would be whether pitches in that same spot had been strikes earlier in the game.
6. There was some positive and some negative from the UNC offense. First the good: the hitters were extremely patient against Mason Edwards, one of the nation's best pitchers. They forced him to throw 77 pitches in the first three innings, and it felt like he was working with runners on base for his entire outing. Edwards left after those three innings. His quick departure makes you suspect the Trojans might consider bringing him back for some work on Sunday if needed.
7. And now the negative: Carolina loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning and got zero runs out of it, as Edwards mowed through the next three hitters with three strikeouts. He's the nation's leader in strikeouts and a very tough pitcher, but in a super-regional setting the Heels needed to find a way to coax across a run or two in that situation.
8. The change in Carolina's offensive success midway through the game was pronounced. Through the point when Colin Hynek's double gave the home team a 5-1 lead in the fifth, the Heels had zero first or second pitch outs in 25 plate appearances. After that point, though, they had eight first or second pitch outs in 14 plate appearances. Twelve of of those 14 PA's were outs, as Southern Cal's unheralded bullpen was terrific in relief of Edwards.Â
9. The loss overshadowed an excellent day for Erik Paulsen. Coming off a MOP performance in the Chapel Hill Regional, the first baseman had a pair of hits and two diving plays at first base. He also made an extremely savvy baserunning play tagging up on a fly ball at center, with the play eventually allowing him to score a run Carolina otherwise would not have scored.
10. A reminder that if you scored tickets for this weekend, you can ease some of the pregame traffic hassles by arriving early and taking part in the Block Party at the Bosh. It opens three hours before first pitch all weekend and includes shade tents, TV's, food trucks, beer and merch. Ridge Road outside the stadium is closed to allow room for all the festivities.
11. Friday was a sweltering one, and Saturday is expected to be similar. Remember that Boshamer rules allow you to take in sealed water and soft-sided coolers that will fit under your seat. For a complete list of details you need to know, check here.
12. Saturday's first pitch is at 2 p.m. Carolina will be the visiting team. There's going to be some hangover among fans because of the shocking turnaround to this game and the similarities it bore to last year's super-regional. But someone fights back every year through the super-regionals. It might as well be Carolina. Â
1. Southern Cal takes a 1-0 lead in the super-regional, getting some big swings after falling behind to seal a 9-5 victory. Carolina has scored first in 44 games this season. Friday was just the fourth time they've lost after putting the game's first runs on the board.
2. Just a stunning turnaround in the middle innings. Ryan Lynch appeared to be cruising, but ran into some trouble in the sixth. After 89 pitches on a very warm day, the Tar Heels pulled him for Walker McDuffie.
3. That decision will be much-talked about because of the result--Southern Cal soon got a game-changing grand slam from a .244 hitter and McDuffie was eventually done after three hits and four runs in a third of an inning. In the moment, though, it felt like the right choice. McDuffie is the guy who has gotten those outs for most of the last couple of months. Friday, he simply didn't get the same results.Â
4. Lynch was excellent. He threw 5.2 innings, walking none and striking out seven. That's the kind of start you need from your Friday pitcher in a super regional.Â
5. One of the reasons the baseball postseason can be so frustrating is how thin the margins are. On the batter before McDuffie gave up the grand slam, he delivered a 3-2 pitch that might have been called a strike at other junctures of the game but was ruled ball four in this instance. A couple pitches later, Southern Cal had the lead. The pitch in question was off the plate. The question would be whether pitches in that same spot had been strikes earlier in the game.
6. There was some positive and some negative from the UNC offense. First the good: the hitters were extremely patient against Mason Edwards, one of the nation's best pitchers. They forced him to throw 77 pitches in the first three innings, and it felt like he was working with runners on base for his entire outing. Edwards left after those three innings. His quick departure makes you suspect the Trojans might consider bringing him back for some work on Sunday if needed.
7. And now the negative: Carolina loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning and got zero runs out of it, as Edwards mowed through the next three hitters with three strikeouts. He's the nation's leader in strikeouts and a very tough pitcher, but in a super-regional setting the Heels needed to find a way to coax across a run or two in that situation.
8. The change in Carolina's offensive success midway through the game was pronounced. Through the point when Colin Hynek's double gave the home team a 5-1 lead in the fifth, the Heels had zero first or second pitch outs in 25 plate appearances. After that point, though, they had eight first or second pitch outs in 14 plate appearances. Twelve of of those 14 PA's were outs, as Southern Cal's unheralded bullpen was terrific in relief of Edwards.Â
9. The loss overshadowed an excellent day for Erik Paulsen. Coming off a MOP performance in the Chapel Hill Regional, the first baseman had a pair of hits and two diving plays at first base. He also made an extremely savvy baserunning play tagging up on a fly ball at center, with the play eventually allowing him to score a run Carolina otherwise would not have scored.
10. A reminder that if you scored tickets for this weekend, you can ease some of the pregame traffic hassles by arriving early and taking part in the Block Party at the Bosh. It opens three hours before first pitch all weekend and includes shade tents, TV's, food trucks, beer and merch. Ridge Road outside the stadium is closed to allow room for all the festivities.
11. Friday was a sweltering one, and Saturday is expected to be similar. Remember that Boshamer rules allow you to take in sealed water and soft-sided coolers that will fit under your seat. For a complete list of details you need to know, check here.
12. Saturday's first pitch is at 2 p.m. Carolina will be the visiting team. There's going to be some hangover among fans because of the shocking turnaround to this game and the similarities it bore to last year's super-regional. But someone fights back every year through the super-regionals. It might as well be Carolina. Â
Players Mentioned
Friday, June 05
Thursday, June 04
Thursday, June 04
Monday, June 01