We’re now a full month into college baseball season, with strong programs starting to separate themselves from the rest.
The UNC baseball team, with plenty of fresh faces on its roster, is thriving early. North Carolina (17-3-1, 4-2 ACC) swept Cal over the weekend, winning its first conference series and remaining perfect on the road.
In USA TODAY Sports’ latest Coaches’ Poll, the Diamond Heels climbed four spots to 10th. UNC, one of seven ACC teams in the March 16 poll, is a slot behind Florida State and one slot in front of the USC Trojans.
|
1 |
UCLA Bruins |
17-2 |
746 |
26 |
1 |
– |
1/2 |
|
2 |
Texas Longhorns |
18-1 |
720 |
4 |
2 |
– |
2/3 |
|
3 |
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
17-3 |
687 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
3/5 |
|
4 |
Auburn Tigers |
17-2 |
644 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
4/9 |
|
5 |
Georgia Bulldogs |
17-4 |
564 |
0 |
8 |
3 |
5/13 |
|
6 |
Mississippi State Bulldogs |
16-4 |
556 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
3/6 |
|
7 |
Arkansas Razorbacks |
14-6 |
540 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
5/9 |
|
8 |
Oklahoma Sooners |
17-3 |
501 |
0 |
11 |
3 |
8/NR |
|
9 |
Florida State Seminoles |
16-3 |
455 |
0 |
15 |
6 |
9/17 |
|
10 |
North Carolina Tar Heels |
17-3 |
409 |
0 |
14 |
4 |
6/14 |
|
11 |
USC Trojans |
19-1 |
400 |
0 |
19 |
8 |
11/NR |
|
12 |
Virginia Cavaliers |
16-4 |
399 |
0 |
16 |
4 |
12/NR |
|
13 |
North Carolina State Wolfpack |
16-4 |
394 |
0 |
10 |
3 |
10/19 |
|
14 |
Florida Gators |
18-3 |
351 |
0 |
18 |
4 |
8/18 |
|
15 |
Southern Miss Golden Eagles |
16-4 |
340 |
0 |
7 |
8 |
7/20 |
|
16 |
Oregon State Beavers |
14-4 |
327 |
0 |
17 |
1 |
12/18 |
|
17 |
Clemson Tigers |
16-4 |
305 |
0 |
9 |
8 |
9/17 |
|
18 |
Kentucky Wildcats |
18-2 |
295 |
0 |
22 |
4 |
18/NR |
|
19 |
Oregon Ducks |
17-3 |
187 |
0 |
NR |
7 |
19/NR |
|
20 |
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers |
13-6 |
133 |
0 |
25 |
5 |
7/25 |
|
21 |
Texas A&M Aggies |
16-3 |
125 |
0 |
20 |
1 |
20/NR |
|
22 |
West Virginia Mountaineers |
13-4 |
115 |
0 |
NR |
6 |
22/NR |
|
23 |
Tennessee Volunteers |
14-6 |
112 |
0 |
21 |
2 |
15/23 |
|
24 |
Ole Miss Rebels |
16-5 |
89 |
0 |
24 |
– |
21/NR |
|
25 |
Wake Forest Demon Deacons |
15-5 |
87 |
0 |
12 |
13 |
12/25 |
North Carolina started its 2026 season a perfect 6-0, before winning, tying and losing once each against East Carolina. The Diamond Heels generated another 6-game winning streak, including a record-breaking series against Le Moyne College, before suffering their greatest setback in a series loss to Virginia.
Besides head coach Scott Forbes, who are the main drivers behind UNC’s early success? At the plate, North Carolina has five guys hitting a minimum .300. Stony Brook transfer Erik Paulsen leads the Diamond Heels in batting average (.357), runs scored (30) runs batted in (23), home runs (six).
On the mound, Jason DeCaro looks every bit of a top pitcher in college baseball. DeCaro has a 4-1 win-loss record, 1.67 earned run averaged and struck out 23 batters. UNC’s bullpen is the deepest in recent memory, with guys like Walker McDuffie, Matthew Matthijs and Jackson Rose mowing down opposing hitters left and right.
North Carolina hosts UNC-Greensboro on Wednesday at 4 p.m., then Louisville this coming weekend. The Diamond Heels are hoping for another College World Series trip this spring, with early returns a promising sign.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC baseball rises to 10th in March 16 USA TODAY Sports Coaches’ Poll
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