A Power Surge in Charlotte
North Carolina opened the game with a two‑run homer from Gavin Gallaher, quickly flipping a 1‑0 deficit into a 2‑2 tie. The momentum kept building as Rom Kellis V launched two early blasts, driving in five runs and igniting the crowd.
Jake Schaffner added a 4‑for‑6 performance that included a double and a triple, while Cooper Nicholson’s single down the left‑field line plated Macon Winslow to push the lead to 3‑2. By the second inning, Erik Paulsen and Owen Hull each added solo homers, stretching the advantage to 6‑2.
Pitt managed a brief rally in the third, trimming the gap to 6‑3 on Sebastian Pisacreta’s RBI double, but the Tar Heels answered with a burst of long balls. AJ Nessler’s solo shot cut the margin to 8‑4, only for Cooper Nicholson to respond with a solo homer and Rom Kellis V to deliver a three‑run blast that put the game out of reach.
The onslaught continued into the eighth, where Colin Hynek’s solo homer to left‑center capped a 13‑4 lead. Pitt scratched across a final run in the ninth on Trey Fenderson’s RBI single, but the outcome was never in doubt after the early outburst.
Walker McDuffie earned the win, tossing 2 2/3 innings of one‑run baseball with three strikeouts, while Pitt starter Antonio Doganiero lasted just one inning, surrendering five runs on five hits.
What This Means for the ACC Final
With the victory, North Carolina secures a date against Georgia Tech in the championship game. The Tar Heels will look to ride the hot bats of Rom Kellis V, Jake Schaffner and the rest of a lineup that combined for six homers and 22 hits. Coach Ryan Lynch’s squad enters the final with confidence, having never trailed after the first inning.
The upcoming matchup promises another high‑scoring affair, as both teams boast potent offenses. Fans can expect a battle of pitching depth, with Walker McDuffie likely to start, while Pitt will aim to tighten up a defense that struggled against a barrage of home runs.