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If you're a college baseball fan, there's a top-3 matchup in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that you can't miss this weekend. Get to Boshamer Stadium if you can, but if not, watch on TV.
Third-ranked UNC, which looks every bit of a College World Series contender and second-ranked Georgia Tech, the nation's hottest team, will face off in a 3-game series this weekend.
The Diamond Heels (31-6-1, 13-5 ACC) and Yellow Jackets (31-5, 15-3 ACC) will kick off Game 1 at 6 p.m. Friday, then re-charge and play again at 12 p.m. Saturday. For the series finale, North Carolina and GT will battle April 19 at 1 p.m.
After facing some initial questions earlier in 2026, highlighted by a 1-1-1 series against in-state rival East Carolina and a lackluster, ACC-opening series loss against Virginia, UNC is taking the college baseball world by storm. Carrying a brand new roster with new starters at virtually every position in the field, North Carolina is utilizing a combination of small ball, steady run production and countless speed to win games.
It's the Diamond Heels' pitchers, particularly their bullpen arms, that make this team one of the country's most-feared.
Freshman Caden Glauber, who leads UNC with three saves and 51 strikeouts, sports a 4-0 win-loss record and 1.71 earned run average. Sophomore Walker McDuffie anchors North Carolina with six wins.
If there's one team better than the Diamond Heels, it's arguably Georgia Tech, which enters with the nation's longest active winning streak at 13.
The Yellow Jackets, who lead all of Division I with a .362 team batting average, are led at the plate by superstars Jarren Advincula (.421) and Carson Kerce (.402). Eight Tech starters hit a minimum .300, compared to just four on UNC.
Keep reading below, as we dive deeper into our series preview with several must-knows, ahead of Game 1 on Friday at 6 p.m.
Neutralizing the Georgia Tech bats.
There's no college baseball team that hits better than the Yellow Jackets. Tech has 38 runs over their last three games, two coming in wins against another Top-10 squad in Florida State.
There's no question North Carolina's bullpen will shine at some point. It's the Diamond Heels' starters, though, who need to keep GT off the basepaths.
Jason DeCaro is the only full-time UNC starter with an ERA below 3.00. Ryan Lynch (2-3, 4.41 ERA) and Folger Boaz (3-0, 6.10 ERA) are giving up too many runs. Jackson Rose (three starts, 1.32 ERA) may draw a start one game.
The Diamond Heels need to pitch well, particularly early, if they want to upset the Yellow Jackets at home.
RP Caden Glauber: 4-0, 3 saves, 1.71 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 51 K, .179 BAA
SP Ryan Lynch: 2-3, 4.41 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 47 K, .258 BAA
OF Owen Hull: .392 batting average, 56 hits, 40 runs batted in, 25 walks, 11 stolen bases
INF Erik Paulsen: .313 BA, 45 hits, six home runs, 35 RBI, 26 walks
INF Jarren Advincula: .421 BA, 64 hits, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 18 BB, 5 SB
C Vahn Lackey: .386 BA, 51 hits, 12 HR, 45 RBI, 30 BB, 7 SB
SP Tate McKee: 6-0, 3.50 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 45 K, .215 BAA
RP Mason Patel: 2-0, 3 saves, 3.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 14 K, .294 BAA
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Diamond Heels-Yellow Jackets preview, schedule and more
Continue reading...
Third-ranked UNC, which looks every bit of a College World Series contender and second-ranked Georgia Tech, the nation's hottest team, will face off in a 3-game series this weekend.
The Diamond Heels (31-6-1, 13-5 ACC) and Yellow Jackets (31-5, 15-3 ACC) will kick off Game 1 at 6 p.m. Friday, then re-charge and play again at 12 p.m. Saturday. For the series finale, North Carolina and GT will battle April 19 at 1 p.m.
After facing some initial questions earlier in 2026, highlighted by a 1-1-1 series against in-state rival East Carolina and a lackluster, ACC-opening series loss against Virginia, UNC is taking the college baseball world by storm. Carrying a brand new roster with new starters at virtually every position in the field, North Carolina is utilizing a combination of small ball, steady run production and countless speed to win games.
It's the Diamond Heels' pitchers, particularly their bullpen arms, that make this team one of the country's most-feared.
Freshman Caden Glauber, who leads UNC with three saves and 51 strikeouts, sports a 4-0 win-loss record and 1.71 earned run average. Sophomore Walker McDuffie anchors North Carolina with six wins.
If there's one team better than the Diamond Heels, it's arguably Georgia Tech, which enters with the nation's longest active winning streak at 13.
The Yellow Jackets, who lead all of Division I with a .362 team batting average, are led at the plate by superstars Jarren Advincula (.421) and Carson Kerce (.402). Eight Tech starters hit a minimum .300, compared to just four on UNC.
Keep reading below, as we dive deeper into our series preview with several must-knows, ahead of Game 1 on Friday at 6 p.m.
Series Schedule
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- Game 1 (Friday, April 17) – vs. Georgia Tech, Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium, 6 p.m., ACCNX
- Game 2 (Saturday, April 18) – vs. Georgia Tech, Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium, 12 p.m., ACC Network
- Game 3 (Sunday, April 19) – vs. Georgia Tech, Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium, 1 p.m., ACC Network
UNC's Key to Victory
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Neutralizing the Georgia Tech bats.
There's no college baseball team that hits better than the Yellow Jackets. Tech has 38 runs over their last three games, two coming in wins against another Top-10 squad in Florida State.
There's no question North Carolina's bullpen will shine at some point. It's the Diamond Heels' starters, though, who need to keep GT off the basepaths.
Jason DeCaro is the only full-time UNC starter with an ERA below 3.00. Ryan Lynch (2-3, 4.41 ERA) and Folger Boaz (3-0, 6.10 ERA) are giving up too many runs. Jackson Rose (three starts, 1.32 ERA) may draw a start one game.
The Diamond Heels need to pitch well, particularly early, if they want to upset the Yellow Jackets at home.
Players to Watch from UNC
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RP Caden Glauber: 4-0, 3 saves, 1.71 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 51 K, .179 BAA
SP Ryan Lynch: 2-3, 4.41 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 47 K, .258 BAA
OF Owen Hull: .392 batting average, 56 hits, 40 runs batted in, 25 walks, 11 stolen bases
INF Erik Paulsen: .313 BA, 45 hits, six home runs, 35 RBI, 26 walks
Players to Watch from Georgia Tech
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INF Jarren Advincula: .421 BA, 64 hits, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 18 BB, 5 SB
C Vahn Lackey: .386 BA, 51 hits, 12 HR, 45 RBI, 30 BB, 7 SB
SP Tate McKee: 6-0, 3.50 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 45 K, .215 BAA
RP Mason Patel: 2-0, 3 saves, 3.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 14 K, .294 BAA
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Diamond Heels-Yellow Jackets preview, schedule and more
Continue reading...
