UNC baseball rematch vs. Pitt: Game preview, schedule and more
The UNC and Pitt baseball squads face each other Saturday in the ACC Tournament semifinals. Get ready for this rematch with our preview.
Deadlocked in a heated battle with Virginia Tech early during Friday's ACC Tournament quarterfinal matchup , the UNC baseball squad found itself in danger of a shocking, early exit. Thanks to timely defensive plays and two big innings, North Carolina averted a major crisis and rallied to beat the Hokies, 10-4. As a result of their big victory, the Diamond Heels (44-11-1, 22-8 ACC) advanced to Saturday's ACC Semifinal round, where they'll face 14-seed Pitt for a fourth time this season.
UNC started hot Friday with a second-inning, thanks to a 2-run double from Jake Schaffner . Virginia Tech (30-24, 15-15 ACC) knocked Jason DeCaro for three runs in the third, but Carter French ended things with a beautiful, running catch in right-center field. North Carolina took the lead for good with a 3-run fourth inning, added a sixth-inning insurance run, then distanced itself from the Hokies with four eighth-inning runs.
The 14-seed Panthers (33-23, 11-19 ACC) are red-hot at the perfect time, upsetting Louisville, Wake Forest and Florida State en route to the semis. Pitt earned the ACC Tournament's third-lowest seed, but a 16-8 blowout, 7-4 win and 8-6 victory have them two wins from the NCAA Tournament. UNC swept the Panthers in its final, regular season series at Boshamer Stadium, starting with a 4-1 win on May 8.
The Diamond Heels mercy-ruled Pitt that Saturday, then won 7-3 on Mother's Day. The Panthers are playing their best baseball right now, putting North Carolina on upset watch. Keep reading below, as we dive deeper into this ACC Semifinals preview with broadcast information, UNC's key to victory, picks and players to watch from both teams.