It seems like college baseball season just started the other day. This weekend, your North Carolina Tar Heels will play their final, regular season home series.
Second-ranked UNC (37-9-1, 17-7 ACC) welcomes Pitt, losers of its past four games, to Boshamer Stadium for a 3-game weekend set. The Panthers (28-18, 10-14 ACC) and Diamond Heels begin their series Friday at 6 p.m., continue Saturday at noon, then end with a 1 p.m. clash on Mother’s Day.
North Carolina should be amongst the favorites for Omaha this year, but consistency has to return. UNC mercy-ruled archrival Duke last Sunday, 13-0, but lost 12-2 the previous Tuesday to Coastal Carolina. The Diamond Heels smacked Duke on April 25 in Durham, 22-5, but totaled three runs in their previous two games.
Pitt is a tough team to figure out. The Panthers have several impressive wins, including series victories over Louisville and a home sweep of ranked Virginia, but bad losses (swept at last-place Cal).
North Carolina does a good job with beating teams it should, but Pitt is in desperation mode for postseason play. Keep reading below for three keys to a UNC victory.
Establish the tone early
The Diamond Heels plated six first-inning runs against Duke last Sunday, giving themselves the breathing room needed for a blowout win. It’s tough for teams to play from behind, so North Carolina needs to establish its hitting attack early.
UNC’s pitching staff, amongst the nation’s best, has to limit damage on the basepaths. Sunday’s 13-0 win was a step in the right direction, but a 12-2 loss vs. Coastal Carolina is exactly what the Diamond Heels needed to avoid.
If North Carolina starts strong each game, the bullen will shut Pitt down.
Don’t underestimate the Panthers
Pitt can mash. The Panthers have an overall winning record, but find themselves amidst a deep ACC.
Lorenzo Carrier leads Pitt with 18 home runs and 61 runs batted in. Right behind Carrier is Calin Duden, with 12 bombs 43 RBI.
The Panthers might not have UNC’s pitching, but their bats are arguably better.
Don’t blow up in late innings
UNC hung tough with Coastal Carolina, until the Chanticleers started teeing off an usually-reliable bullpen. Matthew Matthijs, who won 12 games in 2024, gave up three runs on three hits to Coastal batters.
As previously mentioned, Pitt has the batters to give Diamond Heels pitchers trouble. North Carolina has to slug early, giving its bullpen a massive cushion in the later innings.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC baseball: 3 keys to victory vs. Pitt Panthers