Baseball Wins Battle With NC State 9-4 In Series Opener

Thursday, May 14

Raleigh, N.C.

7 PM

North Carolina

42-9-1, 21-7

NC State

31-20, 13-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Carolina	0	0	1	0	5	0	0	1	2	9	8	1
NC State	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	4	7	2

May 15, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

By: William Soulé

RALEIGH, N.C. – Carolina baseball came out on top of the opener in the final series of the regular season with a 9-4 victory over NC State on Thursday night at Doak Field.

The No. 2 Tar Heels (42-9-1, 21-7 ACC) built a lead with a five run fifth inning and adeptly answered every punch the Wolfpack tried to throw, effectively taking the wind out of the sails of any comeback attempt.

Jason DeCaro was ultra effective in picking up his 10^th win of the season, striking out eight and allowing just four hits. He hadn't given up a run until the sixth where his two walks to that lead off the inning came around to score.

The only damage NC State did on the night came in that sixth frame where they scored all four of their runs. Freshman Caden Glauber came in to relieve DeCaro and gave up a three-run homer before settling back in to get out of the inning and calm the waters.

Walker McDuffie finished the game with a nearly flawless 2.0 IP where he sat down three and did not allow a run. He would pick up his fifth save of the season for his efforts.

The offense got going for the Tar Heels in the third thanks to a leadoff triple from Carter French. The second of the season and his career, French was then brought home on an RBI groundout from Jake Schaffner to score the game's first run.

The red-hot Schaffner started this series with a double, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Across his last 10 games, he's averaging .459 with a .571 on-base percentage.

Carolina's offense exploded in their half of the fifth for five runs highlighted by home runs from Tyler Howe and Owen Hull. Howe's solo shot kicking things off. It was the fourth homer of his rookie season but the first sent to the opposite field.

Schaffner added another RBI to his ledger before Hull pulled a no-doubter 421 feet to the trees over the right field fence. The Tar Heel center fielder seems to be powering up as the postseason approaches, he launched a 466-foot bomb last game against UNCW. It is the first time in his career hitting home runs in back-to-back games.

Late insurance came with runs in the eighth and ninth that gave the Heels much needed separation in hostile territory. Gavin Gallaher knocked his second ground-rule double in as many games this week before Macon Winslow singled to each drive in a run.

In totality, Carolina at the plate recorded eight hits with five of them going for extra bases. All nine hitters reached safely at some point for the second straight contest.

The Tar Heels travel back to Raleigh tomorrow night for game two against the Wolfpack. Coverage will once again come on ACC Network with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.