UNC rolls past Clemson, 14-4, to win second ACC championship in four years
North Carolina held its first team meeting on Aug. 19 and head baseball coach Scott Forbes asked the team to name its ultimate goal. The players agreed: A national championship.
On Sunday, the No. 3 Tar Heels looked like a team worthy of Omaha during the ACC Championship game — a 14-4 blowout of No. 14 Clemson.
“I’d be lying if I said we talked about, ‘Hey, we’re going to check these boxes off as we go along the way: Win the regular season, win the ACC Championship.’ I think that’s a given at the University of North Carolina,” Forbes said the day prior. “I’ve been here so long, our program has gotten to that point where we expect to be in the running, hopefully, to win an ACC regular season or win an ACC Championship.”
UNC met one of its expectations by defeating Clemson to claim its second ACC title in four years and ninth overall. The Heels are now 11-3 in the ACC tournament under Forbes.
“Me and Jake Knapp were talking after the game today. It’s our third year and [we] haven’t been able to get to this point in the last couple of years,” said second baseman Jackson Van De Brake. “Obviously, have had good years, but we just kind of left this to be had. It’s a good feeling, for sure. It was an opportunity to prove that we’re the best team in the ACC, and that we felt that way all year.”
Carolina (42-12) took an early lead due to Clemson’s (44-16) defensive and pitching issues, but the Tar Heels busted the game open in the bottom of the fifth when they sent 12 batters to the plate. UNC went up 12-0 after scoring eight runs on seven hits, including home runs from three different players, and two walks. It’s the first time this season UNC hit three homers in a single inning.
UNC took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after being positioned to sit down in order, but Clemson center fielder Cam Cannarella dropped a fly ball to extend the inning. Third baseman Gavin Gallaher then doubled off the left field wall and drove in catcher Like Stevenson.
Gallaher added a second double in the same spot to lead off the third. Clemson’s infield played shallow against Alex Madera — a decision the Tigers would come to regret — when he drove in Gallaher for the fourth run of the game.
The Tar Heels held a more-than-comfortable 14-0 lead after the sixth inning, the most runs scored in an ACC Tournament game under Forbes. The Tigers scored four runs, but the outcome was never in question.
Van De Brake led the team with five RBIs, while Gallaher and Madera contributed a trio of hits. Nine Tar Heels scored, and seven recorded a hit.
“It feels great to jump on a team like that,” Gallaher said. “We knew that even the four runs early weren’t going to be enough, and they’ve got an offense that can come back at any time. To put eight on them and stretch that lead, I think, really helped us play even looser than we already were.”
Heels command the mound, Tigers falter
Carolina turned to freshman right-hander Ryan Lynch as its starting pitcher. The rookie, making his first start, entered the game with a 3.25 ERA and 4-1 record. His last appearance was at Florida State where he allowed one hit and one walk in 1.2 innings. He rolled through the first three frames, striking out five of the first 11 batters faced.
Lynch received his first real test of the game in the top of the fourth. Clemson loaded the bases with no outs. The rookie showed veteran-level composure, recording a pair of strikeouts — one of which came against Clemson’s grand-slam hitter Jacob Jarrell — and inducing a ground-out to retire the side.
His day ended after four innings thrown, two hits and seven strikeouts.
“I’ve told him the whole year, ‘You’re a starter on probably 95% of teams.’ Not every team has the rotation we have,” Forbes said. “I think he’s going to be one of the best starters in our league when it’s all said and done.”
Olin Johnson replaced Lynch on the bump and tamed the Tigers with ease for two innings. Clemson’s Cam Cannarella ended the shutout when he hit a two-run homer, his third of the season, on a 3-2 count in the seventh.
Folger Boaz and Cameron Padgett threw down the stretch and each gave up a run.
The Carolina pitching staff held the Tigers to 9-of-35 hitting (.257), below its season average of .279, and 5-22 (.227) with runners on.
“It’s really been a while since Olin Johnson and Cam Padgett pitched,” Forbes said. “I felt Olin was outstanding; pounded the strike zone. He’s going to be mad that he had to come out, because I’m sure he wanted to finish the game.”
Clemson used lefty BJ Bailey on the mound to open the game, but his outing didn’t last long. Bailey picked up four outs in 1.1 innings but loaded the bases in the bottom of the second with a pair of hit batters and one walk.
The Heels capitalized on the free bases, scoring one on Kane Kepley’s sacrifice fly and Van De Brake’s single. They led 3-0 after Bailey’s brief outing.
Bailey was a surprising starter due to his 5.49 ERA and 2-4 record. In his last five appearances, the senior recorded 21 hits, 17 runs, five homers, three walks and four strikeouts in 5.3 IP innings.
Clemson used six different pitchers but none could contain Carolina. Justin LeGuernic had the most success allowing one hit and striking out six.
As a team, the staff gave up five walks and one hit batter. The Tigers entered the game allowing 8.4 hits and 3.8 walks per nine innings.
The teams will find out their NCAA Tournament fate on Monday. Both programs are expected to host regionals next weekend.
This story was originally published May 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM.
