University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, June 5
Chapel Hill
3 PM ET
North Carolina
48-12-1
5
vs
9
USC
48-16
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 1 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
Photo by: NATE SKVORETZ
USC’s Bats Power Past Carolina In Super Regional Opener, 9-5
June 5, 2026 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- A fifth inning grand slam by the Trojans sealed the deal for Southern California in the first game of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, defeating North Carolina 9-5 on Friday afternoon.
The No. 5 Tar Heels (48-12-1, 22-8 ACC) lost the late inning battle to the Trojans, facing one of the hottest offenses in the country who came in averaging over 15 runs in tournament play.
Sophomore Ryan Lynch got the start on the mound for the 16th time this season. He started out on a high note striking out two of the three batters he faced in the top of the first. This marks the second time in a row Lynch has struck out two of the first three batters he's faced in a start. On the other side of the inning, North Carolina was knocking at the door with the bases loaded after multiple walks by the Trojans. The Tar Heels could not find contact to put its first runner aboard leaving the inning scoreless.
In the second inning, Carolina found its way across home plate after Jake Schaffner drove in his 45th RBI of the year with a single to right bringing home Tyler Howe. The Tar Heels continued to power through on offense. With Colin Hynek on third, Gavin Gallaher recorded a sacrifice fly to drive in the second Tar Heel run of the inning to put them ahead, 2-0.
Starting the third, the Trojans scratched the board with a solo shot home run to center field to cut the Tar Heel lead in half. Patient at the plate, North Carolina drew four walks from USC pitcher Mason Edwards. Macon Winslow was given a free pass to first base with no outs in the bottom of the third. Erik Paulsen then hit his 14th double of the season to deep center field to score Winslow from first, extending the Tar Heel lead at 3-1. A small ball from Hynek scored Paulsen with two outs after an error committed by the Trojans. The Tar Heels left the inning ahead 4-1.
Lynch continued to command the game from the mound recording two more strikeouts to get his 80th on the year. The Trojans were able to put two on base, but Rom Kellis got the Heels out of the two-out jam with a catch in left field. In the top of the fifth, Lynch pitched another three up, three down inning for the third time in the contest. The Tar Heels would go on to add another Carolina double from Hynek scoring Howe while pushing the lead to 5-1.
At the top of the sixth, the Trojans began to make contact hitting multiple single, adding another run to start the inning. With the bases loaded with Trojans, Dean Carpentier homered to hit a grand slam, the second of the NCAA Tournament for Southern California, to put the Trojans ahead 6-5.
Southern California continued to pour it on in the seventh scoring three more runs. Matthew Matthijs took the mound trying to slow the Trojans, but could not locate his throws to retire USC from the side. Jackson Rose then entered the game to get the third out inning. Southern California headed into the eighth with a comfortable 9-5 lead.
Carolina was not able to find an answer to the late offensive power from the Trojans despite blanking Southern California for five innings. The Trojans take game one of the best of three series. The Tar Heels will return to the field tomorrow at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
The No. 5 Tar Heels (48-12-1, 22-8 ACC) lost the late inning battle to the Trojans, facing one of the hottest offenses in the country who came in averaging over 15 runs in tournament play.
Sophomore Ryan Lynch got the start on the mound for the 16th time this season. He started out on a high note striking out two of the three batters he faced in the top of the first. This marks the second time in a row Lynch has struck out two of the first three batters he's faced in a start. On the other side of the inning, North Carolina was knocking at the door with the bases loaded after multiple walks by the Trojans. The Tar Heels could not find contact to put its first runner aboard leaving the inning scoreless.
In the second inning, Carolina found its way across home plate after Jake Schaffner drove in his 45th RBI of the year with a single to right bringing home Tyler Howe. The Tar Heels continued to power through on offense. With Colin Hynek on third, Gavin Gallaher recorded a sacrifice fly to drive in the second Tar Heel run of the inning to put them ahead, 2-0.
Starting the third, the Trojans scratched the board with a solo shot home run to center field to cut the Tar Heel lead in half. Patient at the plate, North Carolina drew four walks from USC pitcher Mason Edwards. Macon Winslow was given a free pass to first base with no outs in the bottom of the third. Erik Paulsen then hit his 14th double of the season to deep center field to score Winslow from first, extending the Tar Heel lead at 3-1. A small ball from Hynek scored Paulsen with two outs after an error committed by the Trojans. The Tar Heels left the inning ahead 4-1.
Lynch continued to command the game from the mound recording two more strikeouts to get his 80th on the year. The Trojans were able to put two on base, but Rom Kellis got the Heels out of the two-out jam with a catch in left field. In the top of the fifth, Lynch pitched another three up, three down inning for the third time in the contest. The Tar Heels would go on to add another Carolina double from Hynek scoring Howe while pushing the lead to 5-1.
At the top of the sixth, the Trojans began to make contact hitting multiple single, adding another run to start the inning. With the bases loaded with Trojans, Dean Carpentier homered to hit a grand slam, the second of the NCAA Tournament for Southern California, to put the Trojans ahead 6-5.
Southern California continued to pour it on in the seventh scoring three more runs. Matthew Matthijs took the mound trying to slow the Trojans, but could not locate his throws to retire USC from the side. Jackson Rose then entered the game to get the third out inning. Southern California headed into the eighth with a comfortable 9-5 lead.
Carolina was not able to find an answer to the late offensive power from the Trojans despite blanking Southern California for five innings. The Trojans take game one of the best of three series. The Tar Heels will return to the field tomorrow at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Herrell, Chase (6-4)
L: McDuffie, Walker (7-3)
S: Johnson, Andrew (1)
Batting:
2B: Lopez, Adrian 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1
HR: Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Carpentier, Dean 1
RBI: Basser, Jack 1 ; Lamb, Andrew 2 ; Carpentier, Dean 4 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 1 ; Cadena, Isaac 1
SH: Lamb, Andrew 1 ; Urbon, Walter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lopez, Augie 2 ; Lopez, Adrian 2 ; Lamb, Andrew 2 ; Carpentier, Dean 1 ; Takeuchi, Kevin 2
HBP: Basser, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Hynek, Colin 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
RBI: Schaffner, Jake 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1 ; Hynek, Colin 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
SF: Gallaher, Gavin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Winslow, Macon 1 ; Howe, Tyler 2 ; Hynek, Colin 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
OF/1B
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballFriday, June 05
Thursday, June 04
Thursday, June 04
Monday, June 01