As I watched game three in my cozy and slightly ancient college house in Chapel Hill miles from South Bend where North Carolina was dueling with Notre Dame to try and secure their first ranked road series win since 2024, I thought of something Gavin Gallaher said after the Louisville series.
"It hurts as a hitter that they threw that well and we were on the verge of dropping the series," Gallaher said after the 7-6 win over the Cardinals. "Kind of hurts a little extra—win and lose as a team but it was kind of on us, to finally pull through at the end there and give them some help, that was big."
The pitching helped carry UNC through the Louisville series, while, at times, the offense floundered. Overall in South Bend, with a few exceptions, it was the offense that shined with their never back down can do attitude. It seemed that going down to Notre Dame just energized and sparked the Tar Heel offense as they hit to sweep in their first two ACC road series for the first time since 2013.
Staying Alive
Staying Alive by the Bee Gee's was the anthem of the day because the UNC offense did not look like they would wither away. Carolina laid 15 runs on the Fighting Irish on Sunday as the entire lineup was firing on all cylinders. UNC tallied 14 hits, while striking out 11 times and hitting .529 (9-17) with runners in scoring position.
When UNC starter Folger Boaz struggled, allowing three runs in the first inning and seven runs in his entire 2.1 frames of work, the offense went to work. The UNC bats scored three in the second and a massive eight spot in the fifth (they do love their big innings). They didn't stop there, scoring another three runs in the ninth.
The consecutive and contagious level of scoring all series. What is also impressive was not because of the free passes but just because of the outstanding situation hitting, .529 is a fantastic number for the Tar Heels. UNC never stopped swinging the machete and that all gas no brakes mentality will be crucial for the rest of ACC play.
Emergence
Head Coach Scott Forbes and pitching coach Bryant Gaines will have some decisions to make as they look forward towards the fifth ACC series of the season on deck. Not only will Jason DeCaro be throwing on Thursday off two days less rest but also Boaz has been knocked around a bit. While the Notre Dame offense also found some juice, some of the less common UNC arms showed their mettle.
It was the emergence of Cam Seagraves that highlighted the pitching efforts. After an up and down season with limited work, Seagraves saw the mound on Saturday night and for a crucial 2.2 inning stretch on Sunday. His velocity is down but his off speed looks nasty, as he put up zeros in hits, runs and walks while striking out two in the only nine batters he faced. Caden Glauber is a solidified weapon—earning his third save on Sunday—while Matthew Matthijs and Walker McDuffie seems to both be getting their groove back. But when it comes to games down the stretch, it can't just be those three arms out of the pen and Seagraves looked the part to step up and into a pivotal role.
Golden Bats of the game.
Jake Schaffner: March has not been as kind to him as February has but Sunday's game was a good a "I'm back and didn't leave game" as ever. The shortstop went 3-for-5 with two runs, a walk, two doubles, a homer and five RBIs.
Carter French: The Dr. was IN on Sunday in South Bend. French went 2-for-4 with three runs, and three RBIs.
North Carolina hosts the Campbell Camels next on Tuesday then a Thrusday, Friday, Saturday series Easter weekend against BC (who just took their series against UVa 2-1).
"It hurts as a hitter that they threw that well and we were on the verge of dropping the series," Gallaher said after the 7-6 win over the Cardinals. "Kind of hurts a little extra—win and lose as a team but it was kind of on us, to finally pull through at the end there and give them some help, that was big."
The pitching helped carry UNC through the Louisville series, while, at times, the offense floundered. Overall in South Bend, with a few exceptions, it was the offense that shined with their never back down can do attitude. It seemed that going down to Notre Dame just energized and sparked the Tar Heel offense as they hit to sweep in their first two ACC road series for the first time since 2013.
Staying Alive
Staying Alive by the Bee Gee's was the anthem of the day because the UNC offense did not look like they would wither away. Carolina laid 15 runs on the Fighting Irish on Sunday as the entire lineup was firing on all cylinders. UNC tallied 14 hits, while striking out 11 times and hitting .529 (9-17) with runners in scoring position.
When UNC starter Folger Boaz struggled, allowing three runs in the first inning and seven runs in his entire 2.1 frames of work, the offense went to work. The UNC bats scored three in the second and a massive eight spot in the fifth (they do love their big innings). They didn't stop there, scoring another three runs in the ninth.
The consecutive and contagious level of scoring all series. What is also impressive was not because of the free passes but just because of the outstanding situation hitting, .529 is a fantastic number for the Tar Heels. UNC never stopped swinging the machete and that all gas no brakes mentality will be crucial for the rest of ACC play.
Emergence
Head Coach Scott Forbes and pitching coach Bryant Gaines will have some decisions to make as they look forward towards the fifth ACC series of the season on deck. Not only will Jason DeCaro be throwing on Thursday off two days less rest but also Boaz has been knocked around a bit. While the Notre Dame offense also found some juice, some of the less common UNC arms showed their mettle.
It was the emergence of Cam Seagraves that highlighted the pitching efforts. After an up and down season with limited work, Seagraves saw the mound on Saturday night and for a crucial 2.2 inning stretch on Sunday. His velocity is down but his off speed looks nasty, as he put up zeros in hits, runs and walks while striking out two in the only nine batters he faced. Caden Glauber is a solidified weapon—earning his third save on Sunday—while Matthew Matthijs and Walker McDuffie seems to both be getting their groove back. But when it comes to games down the stretch, it can't just be those three arms out of the pen and Seagraves looked the part to step up and into a pivotal role.
Golden Bats of the game.
Jake Schaffner: March has not been as kind to him as February has but Sunday's game was a good a "I'm back and didn't leave game" as ever. The shortstop went 3-for-5 with two runs, a walk, two doubles, a homer and five RBIs.
Carter French: The Dr. was IN on Sunday in South Bend. French went 2-for-4 with three runs, and three RBIs.
North Carolina hosts the Campbell Camels next on Tuesday then a Thrusday, Friday, Saturday series Easter weekend against BC (who just took their series against UVa 2-1).
