CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 5 national seed North Carolina shut out its opponent for a second straight year in the NCAA Regional opener, earning an 8-0 victory over VCU on Friday night from Boshamer Stadium. With his 14th start of the year, Ryan Lynch pitched seven innings, allowing only two hits on 108 pitches.
North Carolina (46-11-1, 22-8 ACC) got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first, plating three runs, tying the most runs scored in the first frame of a regional opener since 2013 when the Tar Heels faced Cansius. North Carolina moves to 3-1 in NCAA Tournament play against VCU and 21-4 overall.
Gavin Gallaher ignited Carolina with a single up the middle of the infield to get on base first. Erik Paulsen then scored a double to bring home both Gallaher and Macon Winslow to put the Tar Heels up early. Cooper Nicholson added another run with his base hit to left field, striding to a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Nicholson went yard, hitting a 355-foot blast to left field. It marked his 16th home run of the year, putting North Carolina ahead 4-0.
At the top of the sixth, VCU got its leadoff hitter on base for the first time in the contest. Despite two walks allowed by Lynch, the nationally ranked North Carolina defense came in clutch once again with a double play from Paulsen and Nicholson to retire the side.
Lynch continued to deal, producing multiple VCU groundouts through five innings of play. Lynch concluded his time on the mound, recording five strikeouts in his seven-inning outing and 108 pitches, the most in a single-game in his career.
In the bottom of the eighth with two Tar Heels aboard, Jake Schaffner singled to right-center field, scoring Colin Hynek from second base. Schaffner then advanced to second after a throwing error by VCU. Owen Hull then batted a triple down the right field line to score Schaffner from second base, extending the Tar Heel lead 6-0. Pushing the pace, Gallaher singled down the left side of the infield to score Hull. Gallaher stole both second and third, lining himself up to score off of Paulsen’s single and his third RBI of the day.
Walker McDuffie and Matthew Matthijs came in at the top of the eighth and ninth, respectively, to seal the 8-0 victory for North Carolina.
The Tar Heels will face off against in-state foe East Carolina in the winners’ bracket tomorrow night, with the first pitch slated for 5 p.m. ET. Television designations will be announced following the conclusion of today’s NCAA Regional games.
