Cardiac Carolina Scores Five Late To Topple Louisville, 7-6

Sunday, March 22

Chapel Hill

1 PM

North Carolina

20-4-1

Louisville

16-8

Louisville

North Carolina

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

March 22, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: William Soulé

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – A five-run eighth inning vaulted Carolina baseball to a series-securing 7-6 win over Louisville on Sunday afternoon in Boshamer Stadium.

The No. 14 Tar Heels (20-4-1, 6-3 ACC) once again got elite work on the mound from a pitching staff that came into the weekend with a top-10 ERA and managed to lower it against the Cardinals potent offense. Louisville kicked off the weekend with a .363 batting average, third best in the nation, but only hit .200 in this series.

On Sunday, lefty Folger Boaz had the ball to start and went 4.1 innings surrendering three runs on seven hits with one strikeout. His consistent work kept the Heels within arm's length as the offense struggled to get going early.

He was relieved by freshman rising star Caden Glauber, who recorded a new career-high with eight strikeouts in 4.0 IP in picking up his second win. The Fort Mill, S.C., native has been sensational this season and this weekend was no different. He led Carolina in innings pitched in the series with 6.1 while only allowing three runs and three hits.

The veteran captain Matthew Matthijs closed the game for the Heels and earned his second save of the season by putting away the final two Cardinals in the one run game. The outing came just a day removed from taking a 104-mph line drive off his throwing arm.

Carolina's offense needed some time to find its rhythm on Sunday. Outside of Owen Hull and Tyler Howe combining to score the game's first run in the bottom of the second, it felt like UNC was destined for a slow date at the plate.

Macon Winslow provided a much-needed spark in the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot to right center. His fifth long ball of the year and just the second opposite field strike of his collegiate career brought his team back within one.

Finally, the Bosh Magic came out in the eighth. Down two runs going into the inning, the first two pitches for Louisville resulted in a fly out and a ground out. With two outs against them, the next seven Tar Heels reached safely to produce five runs and completely flip the game on its head. UNC scored all seven of its run on the day with two outs.

Jake Schaffner scored the first of the five in the eighth by taking an eight pitch, bases-loaded walk to bring home Cooper Nicholson. The inning almost ended on the fifth pitch, if not for a dropped foul tip by the Louisville catcher giving the Carolina shortstop new life.

His middle infield partner Gavin Gallaher tied the game with an infield single before Erik Paulsen broke the afternoon wide open with a bases clearing double to the wall in left center that put the Heels up for good.

Head coach Scott Forbes and his team will look to carry the momentum from the big series win into a midweek Clash of the Carolinas against South Carolina on Tuesday night in Charlotte. Tickets for the annual contest at Truist Field are still available for purchase.