Heels Come From Behind To Beat Boston College, 7-2

Friday, May 23

Durham, N.C.

7 PM

North Carolina

40-12

Boston College

28-29

Boston College

North Carolina

May 24, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: William Soulé

DURHAM, N.C. – The Diamond Heels rallied late on Friday night to take a 7-2 win over Boston College and punch their ticket into the semifinals of the 2025 ACC Baseball Championship.

The Tar Heels (40-12) offense exploded for seven unanswered runs across the seventh and eighth innings to overcome a two-run Eagles advantage. UNC has now made the semis of the ACC tourney in three of the last four seasons.

Boston College's starter A.J. Colarusso did all he could to hold the Carolina offense back, but three straight walks to open the seventh set the table for two-time captain Jackson Van De Brake. The veteran delivered in the clutch once again, driving a two-strike slider into the right field corner for a two-RBI double that tied the game.

UNC's second baseman would finish the day 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored, two RBIs, a stolen base, and three walks. His .500 batting average with the bases loaded is the best on the team this season.

With the flood gates open, runs continued to pour in for the Tar Heels. A wild pitch scored Kane Kepley before RBI singles from Luke Stevenson and the pinch-hitting Lee Sowers put UNC up 5-2.

Stevenson would pop back up one frame later, launching a moonshot 411 feet into the Durham night to add two more to the Tar Heel tally. It was his 17^th home run of the season and the team's 69^th overall.

ACC Pitcher of the Year Jake Knapp was brilliant again in his first postseason start in two years, allowing just two runs on five hits in 7.0 IP. It was his third straight start without giving up a walk in a stretch of 27 straight clean innings.

In picking up the win, his 12^th of the year, he tied the program record for the most victories in a single season without a defeat (Adam Warren, 2007). He sits just two shy of tying the overall UNC mark for wins in a campaign (14, Greg Norris, 1978).

All-ACC Freshman team member Walker McDuffie entered in relief and hurled 2.0 shutdown innings to close the door on the Eagles. The talented rookie retired all six batters he faced, including striking out all three in the eighth, to record his fifth save of the season.

The Tar Heels will run it back at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET against their most recent weekend series foe No. 6 Florida State. Coverage will once again come on ACC Network.