HawgBeat – Taking a closer look at North Carolina ahead of Chapel Hill Super Regional

Report: 42-20 (15-15 ACC)

The Tar Heels had a season of highs and lows, beginning out sizzling in non-conference play however scuffling by way of a lot of its ACC schedule. They scratched their approach again into the polls and earned regional internet hosting rights by profitable the ACC Match.

Taking two of three video games from East Carolina and sweeping Coastal Carolina to enter its ACC slate on a excessive observe, North Carolina defeated Pittsburgh and Duke within the preliminary two convention sequence.

Getting into the next sequence with a really robust 18-3 file, the Heels went on to lose their subsequent 5 sequence in a row to Miami, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Georgia Tech and Virginia, getting swept by the Hurricanes and Cavaliers. To make issues worse, additionally they dropped midweek matchups to South Carolina and North Carolina A&T at residence, getting blistered by the Gamecocks 15-2.

North Carolina was in a position to bounce again from that chilly streak and enter postseason play on a excessive observe, although, because it defeated North Carolina State and Wake Forest back-to-back and swept Florida State within the regular-season finale.

Going into the convention match because the 8 seed with a .500 file in ACC play, the Heels simply took care of enterprise to be topped champions, defeating Clemson, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame and NC State by a mixed rating of 35-9. It was their eighth convention match championship in program historical past.

Taking part in its regional at residence on account of the late-season sizzling streak, North Carolina discovered itself within the losers’ bracket after a slim 4-3 loss to VCU within the second sport after which warded off a ninth-inning comeback try by 2 seed Georgia to advance to the ultimate.

Needing to beat the Rams twice in a row to keep away from elimination, the Tar Heels dominated with 19-8 and 7-3 victories to advance to the tremendous regionals.

Head Coach: Scott Forbes (2nd season)

That is Forbes’ second on the helm of the Tar Heels, beforehand serving because the affiliate head coach, pitching coach, hitting coach and recruiting coordinator with this system earlier than changing Mike Fox following his retirement.

As a collegiate participant within the late Nineties, Forbes started his profession with Center Georgia School earlier than transferring to North Carolina Wesleyan for the rest of his enjoying profession. He had a really profitable three seasons with the Battling Bishops, culminating with a .387 batting common, 61 RBIs and a school-record 27 doubles in his senior 12 months.