North Carolina baseball hits season-high home runs in win over UNCW
North Carolina's batting lineup mashed in its 13-7 win over UNC Wilmington on Tuesday night.
No. 2 North Carolina closed its final midweek game of the 2026 season with a 13-7 road win over UNC Wilmington on Tuesday night at Brooks Field. The Tar Heels (41-9-1) and Seahawks combined for eight home runs, with both team hitting four home runs each.
That home run total is the highest of the season for Carolina. UNC finished with 13 runs on 13 hits and six walks, and all nine starters had at least one hit while eight scored. The Tar Heels improved to 19-0 this season when scoring in double figures.
North Carolina used five pitchers, who combined for 12 strikeouts in a game that lasted 3 hours, 52 minutes. Veteran right-hander Matthew Matthijs (3-0) earned the victory and did most of the heavy lifting, working 3 1/3 innings, striking out four, allowing one run on two hits and three walks. Left-hander Tom Chmielewski entered in the eighth and threw two scoreless innings, striking out three and giving up one hit to earn his first save of the season.
The Tar Heels seized control early. In the top of the first inning, Gavin Gallaher launched a 405-foot, three-run home run to center field — his 10th of the season — scoring Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull. UNCW answered in the bottom half when Mason Hughes hit a 377-foot solo shot to left, his third of the year.