CHAPEL HILL – The Diamond Heels survived a marathon weekend in Durham to beat Virginia Tech in the finals Sunday, 4-1, capturing the 2013 ACC Championship,

In total Carolina played 50 innings during the tournament, allowing only nine runs.

It’s the sixth ACC title for UNC, the first since 2007. The Heels were already named the ACC Regular Season Champs.

The title game against the Hokies began less than 12 hours after UNC’s 18-inning thriller against N.C. State on Saturday. Just a day before, the Heels made a momentous comeback against Clemson over 14 innings of play.

The Heel’s starting pitcher Sunday was the right-hander Taylore Cherry, standing at 6-foot-8, 270 lbs. The freshman’s 90-pitch performance against the Hokies was more pitches than he’d thrown all year. Prior to Sunday, he’d only made five appearances, pitching just 3.1 innings. Cherry didn’t allow a run to cross home base while on mound for five innings.

In the first inning, ACC Player of the Year Colin Moran and Landon Lassiter— who scored the game-winning run against the Wolfpack— singled to get on base. Freshman outfielder Skye Bolt brought home Lassiter with the RBI, Carolina taking the one-run lead.

Bolt knocked another RBI in the third inning as the Hokies fumbled on a double-play attempt— giving Lassiter the go-ahead to score, putting Carolina up 2-0.

Virginia Tech got its only run of the day in the sixth inning. Carolina got the double play following the score, and right-handed pitcher, Trevor Kelley, settled down to end the threat.

Bolt dropped a sacrifice bunt in the eighth. The throw to get Lassiter out got past the Hokies third baseman, allowing him to score. The Heels moved into the ninth inning up 4-1, and Virginia Tech failed to make a comeback.

With the win, North Carolina improved to 52-8 overall, and 23-7 in conference play.

Official attendance was 8,697, the largest crowd for an ACC title game.

The Heels will host a regional for the eighth time in school history and seventh time in the last eight years. They wait to see who will join them at Boshamer Stadium next weekend when the 64-team field is announced on ESPNU’s selection show at 12 p.m. on Monday.

Play begins Friday, May 31, and runs through Sunday, June 2. A seventh game will be played Monday, June 3, if needed.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Baseball Announces 2026 Fall Scrimmage Schedule
Diamond Heels fans will have a chance to see the team in action within the next month. UNC announced its fall scrimmage schedule Friday, with four games on tap both at Boshamer Stadium and Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The four scrimmages are the most the program has ever staged in a single offseason. Missing you […]
Former Players Kyle Datres, Brandon Martorano Promoted to Full-Time Roles on UNC Baseball Staff
Two former Diamond Heel standouts are taking on larger roles on the UNC baseball coaching staff. Kyle Datres and Brandon Martorano, who starred for Carolina in the later 2010s and who served as undergraduate assistants during the 2026 season, have been promoted to full-time roles on the UNC staff moving forward. Both will serve in […]
Shortstop Tyler Jackson, Son of Assistant Coach Scott Jackson, Commits to UNC Baseball
Shortstop prospect Tyler Jackson, the son of UNC assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Scott Jackson, committed to the Diamond Heels Tuesday. A rising junior in high school, Jackson is the first member of the recruiting class of 2028 to commit to UNC. In a nice coincidence for his future head coach, Jackson’s commitment also came […]
Jason DeCaro, Reese Brantmeier, Ryleigh Heck Named 2026 Patterson Medal Winners
UNC announced the 2026 class of Patterson Medal winners Tuesday morning. The Patterson Medal, first awarded in 1924, is the school’s most prestigious honor for athletic excellence and career achievement. To receive the award, Tar Heel athletes must have competed in at least three seasons for UNC and have exhausted their collegiate eligibility. The 2026 […]
'We Still Got Work to Do': Gavin Gallaher Confirms Return to UNC Baseball for 2027 Season
Gavin Gallaher is back. The UNC baseball co-captain confirmed his return to the Diamond Heels Tuesday after not being selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. Gallaher is a rising senior and, thanks to the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 rule for student-athletes, will have two years of eligibility remaining. Tar Heel Nation, we still got work to […]
Diamond Heels in the 2026 MLB Draft: Who's Going Where?
Several UNC baseball players have been selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, which runs through Sunday in Philadelphia. The MLB Draft is different from its counterparts in leagues such as the NFL and NBA, in that players with remaining eligibility can choose to return to school even after being drafted. Here’s a look at which […]
UNC's Jason DeCaro Picked by Pittsburgh Pirates in 2026 MLB Draft
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected UNC pitcher Jason DeCaro in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft. He was the 80th overall pick. 𝐃𝐞𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐲 coming 🔜 in the Burgh!! The @Pirates find draft treasure in @JasonDeCaro2. #ProHeels x @YoungBucsPIT pic.twitter.com/y6WY5AiBPI — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 11, 2026 A three-year starter in the Carolina pitching […]
Boston Red Rox Select UNC Outfielder Owen Hull in 2026 MLB Draft
Owen Hull is off the board in the MLB Draft. The Red Sox selected the UNC outfielder in the second round of the draft Saturday in Philadelphia. Hull was the 67th overall pick, and is the second Diamond Heel to be drafted this year following Jake Schaffner’s selection at No. 20 overall by the same […]
UNC Shortstop Jake Schaffner Selected by Boston Red Sox in 1st Round of 2026 MLB Draft
The Boston Red Sox selected UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner with the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft Saturday. He’s the first Diamond Heel to be selected in this year’s draft. Schaff is 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙣 ‼️‼️ From Janesville now to Bean Town, @JakeSchaffner3 is a first round […]
The Morning News: One Year After Chantal
In today's news: local businesses discuss their year-long recovery process, on the first anniversary of Tropical Storm Chantal.
›