In what might be their toughest test so far this season, the Tar Heels welcome Louisville to Boshamer Stadium for a three game series starting Friday.

The Cardinals come to Chapel Hill as the fifth-ranked team in the nation and a 33-9 overall record.

Ron Stutts chats with UNC Baseball Head Coach Mike Fox:

 

Friday’s matchup will see Tar Heel ace Zac Gallen take on the ACC strikeout leader Brendan McKay.

Saturday will feature another pitching duel as J.B. Bukauskas faces off against wins leader Drew Harrington.

The two Cardinal starters have combined to go 17-3 this season, providing one of the biggest tests for the Tar Heel lineup.

So far this season, UNC pitchers have averaged 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings, one of the top marks in the country. They’ll hope that continues this weekend as one of the most feared hitters in the ACC comes to town.

Lefty outfielder Corey Ray swings one of the most dangerous bats in the county. So far this season he’s batting .316 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI’s. But even when Ray doesn’t go yard, he’s just as great a threat on the basepaths.

Ray breaks conventional wisdom that says power hitters don’t have speed; he’s stolen 35 bases on 41 attempts.

First pitch will be at 6:00 p.m. Friday, and 1:00 Saturday and Sunday. The Tar Heels have not announced who Sunday’s starter will be.