The Diamond Heels are moving on to the Super Regionals of the NCAA Tournament, and they did it the hard way.
After falling into the loser’s bracket with a loss to VCU Saturday night, Carolina won its third game in two days, and second over the Rams, Monday night to advance through to the next round. It’s the first time the Tar Heels have advanced to the Super Regionals out of the loser’s bracket since the tournament format was introduced in 1999.
This SUPER squad is moving on.#GoHeels x #FreakinAwesome pic.twitter.com/YP6uExIBug
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 7, 2022
“My girls will probably tell me it’s the first time I’m kind of lost for words,” said UNC head coach Scott Forbes. “To see the joy on these guys’ face today after where we were, it’s really unbelievable.”
The Tar Heels used a four-run top of the first inning to take the lead and never look back. A three-run home run from Mikey Madej, just his fourth of the season, followed an RBI single from Alberto Osuna and fired the Carolina crowd up early. Madej batted 9-24 with eight RBI in the Chapel Hill Regional and was named Most Outstanding Player.
As Madej put it, “the ball was finding grass.”
“If there was ever a kid to deserve something like this, it’s Mikey Madej,” said Forbes.
Forbes, back from his two-game suspension following an ejection from Saturday’s game, was greeted with a warm ovation from a sold-out Boshamer Stadium crowd.
“It was emotional,” Forbes said. “I will say, it’s a lot harder to watch on TV when you’re not in the dugout. I haven’t been so nervous for 18 innings, I don’t think ever.”
Forbes gave the ball to Brandon Schaeffer to start the game. Schaeffer was just 48 hours removed from starting and throwing 79 pitches against the Rams on Saturday. Nevertheless, the lefty went 3.2 innings and struck out five, allowing only three runs.
“Going out there, I just put the fact that I was on one day’s rest out of my head,” said Schaeffer. “I just treated it like any other start. The goal for me was just to give as much length as I could and give the team a chance to win.”
Forbes then gave the ball to his bullpen, one which threw big-time innings during Sunday’s doubleheader. Gage Gillian stepped up first, and the senior put together one of his best outings of the season, throwing 4.1 innings of one-hit, shutout relief to get the Tar Heels into the ninth. Gillian was credited with the win, his third of the season.
“Obviously, a ton of adrenaline pumping,” Gillian said. “I’ve been in a Regional, but not with a chance to go to a Super. It’s indescribable really, to have the opportunity to be out there.”
Davis Palermo finished the Rams off in the bottom of the ninth (VCU batted as the home team), sending the Carolina fans home happy. The Tar Heels allowed just one hit in the final 5.1 innings, and dealt VCU consecutive losses for the first time since April 26.
The Tar Heels are now one of 16 teams competing for the national championship, just a month and a half after sitting at 23-17 and off the NCAA Tournament bubble. Carolina will enter next weekend 42-20, having won 19 of 22 games and with a chance to host a Super Regional. That will depend on whether No. 7 Oklahoma State beats Arkansas in the Stillwater Regional, also being played Monday night. Should the Razorbacks win, they would come to Chapel Hill next weekend.
But regardless of opponent, the team is confident it can get back to the College World Series for the first time since 2018.
“We’re not done yet,” Madej said. “This isn’t the goal. There’s nothing to celebrate… we’ll celebrate in Omaha.”
Featured image via Inside Carolina/Jim Hawkins
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