College World Series Preview: North Carolina Tar Heels

North Carolina is returning to Omaha for the 13th time in school history and is the only program over the last three seasons to get to the College World Series multiple times. They’ve set a standard and developed a culture that has led to sustained success.

The Tar Heels were ranked in the Top 5 for most of the season, reaching as high as #2 before a loss in the ACC Championship Game to Georgia Tech, which left them finishing third. Carolina is led by a strong pitching staff and a lineup featuring blue-collar veterans.

Journey to Omaha

UNC earned the fifth overall seed in the tournament, marking three straight years that the Heels have been awarded a Top 5 seed. Despite that seeding, many believed Carolina drew the “Regional of Death” after the committee selected Tennessee, East Carolina, and VCU to visit Chapel Hill.

For the second time in three seasons, UNC was dealt a strong SEC team. East Carolina, an in-state rival, was one of two teams that the Tar Heels didn’t beat in a series during the regular season, as they split two games and tied the third. VCU was expected to be a three seed and ultimately eliminated Tennessee.

Despite concerns over the Regional’s strength, most pundits still chose North Carolina. And they were right. The Tar Heels swept through VCU and East Carolina twice to advance to their third straight Super Regional.

The biggest scare in their Regional came in the 1-0 game against ECU when they were down 3-0 after four innings. Grad transfer Colin Hynek then delivered the pivotal blow, launching a three-run blast to centerfield that tied the game. Carolina never looked back after that.

The Super Regional against USC was not as easy as the so-called “Regional of Death.” UNC chased Trojan ace Mason Edwards after three innings and led for much of the first game, before USC mounted a rally and took the lead off a grand slam against bullpen stalwart Walker McDuffie.

With their backs against the wall, the Tar Heels turned to ace Jason DeCaro, who dazzled in what was likely his final home start in Chapel Hill. He tossed a complete game shutout, picking up an offense that was struggling with runners in scoring position and forcing a decisive game three.

Freshman of the Year Caden Glauber hurled a quality start, allowing just three runs over nearly eight innings while striking out a career-high 11 batters, but outside of center fielder Owen Hull, the Tar Heels continued to struggle offensively.

After scratching across a run in the eighth to claw back within a run, the baseball gods sprinkled a little bit of Bosh Magic onto Chapel Hill, culminating in a Hull walk-off double that sent Carolina back to Omaha again.

Expectations for the College World Series

North Carolina has entered each of the last three seasons with National Championship aspirations, and 2026 is no different. There are a few holdovers from that 2024 squad, but the moment won’t be too big for a veteran roster.

A fantastic pitching match-up awaits on Friday night in Omaha, as either Ryan Lynch or Jason DeCaro will take the mound against one of Ole Miss’s elite starting arms. Whichever team wins this opener will become the favorite for that side of the bracket.

Even if Carolina loses, however, they have the pitching depth to survive the loser’s bracket, but they will need the struggling offense to return to form. DeCaro and Lynch will almost certainly start the first two games, while Caden Glauber and Walker McDuffie will be the first names called from the bullpen.

Offensively, the Heels’ numbers don’t jump off the page, but they were a potent group during the last month of the season and are capable of explosive games on any given day. They’re a balanced group that can win in a variety of ways. 

Much will be made about Oklahoma being the only team with fewer home runs than Carolina, but this group slugs doubles and triples, which could favor them if the Schwab plays big.

Players To Watch

SS Jake Schaffner

One of two Midwesterners on the left side of the infield, Jake Schaffner has emerged as one of the best shortstops in the country. After slashing .358/.472/.565 with 32 extra base hits, the junior is rocketing up draft boards.

Schaffner will lead off and anchor an elite infield defense. He’s a doubles machine, hitting 19 of them on the year while also walking more (41) than he’s struck out (28). He is also Carolina’s biggest threat to run, having stolen 25 bases in 28 attempts this season.

2B Gavin Gallaher

Gavin Gallaher has long been known for his postseason prowess after hitting a walk-off grand slam as a freshman in his first Regional game two years ago. Since then, Gallaher is 23-for-46 with 12 extra base hits and 19 RBI in 11 career Regional games.

Something about the calendar turning to late May takes Gallaher to another level. Overall, he’s only hitting .285 with 28 extra base hits, but you can throw those numbers out when it comes to Mr. Regional. He’ll bat second between Schaffner and Hull, creating one of the best 1-2-3 punches in Omaha.

CF Owen Hull

Former George Mason Patriot has become Carolina’s best hitter, hitting nearly .400 with 24 doubles, a triple, and seven long balls. Like Schaffner, he’s walked (47) more than he’s struck out (41) while stealing 17 bags. 

He’s been UNC’s most consistent player throughout the postseason as well, highlighted by his four-double performance in the decisive game of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

RHP Jason DeCaro

Jason DeCaro served as UNC’s Friday night ace as a freshman in 2024, where he took the mound in the Tar Heels’ opening CWS game against Virginia. He turned in a career year this season, going 11-2 with a 2.28 ERA over 17 starts. 

After back-to-back rocky starts against Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship and East Carolina in the Regional, DeCaro tossed the game of his life to even the Super Regional against USC. He threw a complete game shutout, allowing just two hits and striking out eight.

Not one USC Trojan made it past first base in that game.

RHP Caden Glauber

The ACC Freshman of the Year has primarily served as a long-relief weapon out of the bullpen for the Tar Heels, often closing out games. He has saved multiple series over the course of the year for UNC, and there’s an argument to be made that he’s been the ACC’s best pitcher. 

Against USC, Glauber went unused over the first two games of the series, so head coach Scott Forbes opted to have him start the deciding game three. Glauber obliged and tossed a beauty, allowing just three runs over 7.1.

Don’t be surprised if Glauber relieves Lynch or DeCaro in the first two games, as that has been Carolina’s M.O. for most of the season. Glauber is a game-changing arm, and Forbes isn’t afraid to utilize him in the middle innings and ride him the rest of the way.