By admin 
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — A dominant win by the host team and an extra inning affair Friday on the first day of the 2026 Chapel Hill Regional has set up an all-Carolina clash at Boshamer Stadium on Saturday.
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The North Carolina Tar Heels (46-11-1) and East Carolina Pirates (37-22-1), familiar in-state foes, will face each other on the winners side of the double-elimination regional’s bracket. First pitch is scheduled for shortly after 5 p.m.
UNC shut out VCU Friday night by a score of 8-0. Ryan Lynch threw a career-high 108 pitches, striking out five across seven innings. The Tar Heels offense gave him plenty of support, including a solo blast by team home run leader Cooper Nicholson in the third inning for his 16th of the year. It was one of Nicholson’s two RBI on the day.
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Earlier Friday, ECU battled with Tennessee through 14 innings, eventually winning 7-3 to send the Volunteers to the losers bracket. The game was tied 2-2 after nine innings, then 3-3 after 13 frames before the Pirates scored four runs in the top of the 14th beginning with a solo home run by Walker Barron. Braden Burress had two RBI in the game for ECU.
The winner of Saturday night’s matchup will move on to the regional championship Sunday night. The loser will play Sunday afternoon in an elimination game against VCU, who beat the Volunteers Saturday afternoon to keep their season alive.
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