The 2026 NCAA Tournament’s Chapel Hill Regional opens on May 29, pitting the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill against Virginia Commonwealth University in a clash of regional powerhouses.
Coach Scott Forbes has named right‑hander Ryan Lynch as the Tar Heels’ starter for the opening game, a decision that underscores his trust in the pitcher’s recent postseason impact.
Forbes Confident in Dual‑Friday Night Arms
Lynch, who finished the 2025 season with a 4‑4 record and a 4.44 ERA, has been a catalyst in UNC’s surge, highlighted by a win over Oklahoma and a pivotal role in the team’s Super Regional run.
The coach also confirmed that ace Jason DeCaro will be saved for Game 2, where he could face either Tennessee or East Carolina, citing the pitcher’s 10‑2 record and 2.30 ERA as evidence of his reliability in high‑stakes matchups.
VCU will counter with left‑hander Patrick Steitz, who enters the regional with a 7‑3 record and a 3.01 ERA, a stretch in which he has limited opponents to a .223 batting average and recorded 83 strikeouts over 92 ⅔ innings.
Forbes emphasized that both pitchers embody the ‘Friday‑night’ mentality he expects from his staff, a phrase that has become shorthand for clutch performances in the tournament’s early rounds.
The regional also features Tennessee’s Teegan Kuhns, widely regarded as the top MLB draft prospect in the field, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the competition.
Beyond individual stats, the matchups reflect a broader narrative: UNC’s recent four‑game winning streak whenever Lynch takes the mound and VCU’s five‑game streak with Steitz on the hill, setting the stage for a compelling opening contest.