UNC baseball coach Scott Forbes previews Chapel Hill Regional 2025
Following the 2025 NCAA Selection Show, UNC baseball coach Scott Forbes previewed the NCAA Tournament’s Chapel Hill Regional at Boshamer Stadium.
UNC baseball enters the 2025 NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 overall seed, set to host an NCAA Regional for the third time in four years at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill.
The No. 1 Tar Heels (42-12) open against No. 4 Holy Cross (31-25) on May 30 (Noon, ACC Network). No. 2 Oklahoma (35-20) and No. 3 Nebraska (32-27) are on the opposite side of the bracket. UNC enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 team in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll, released on May 26.
The Chapel Hill Regional is paired with the Eugene Regional, which is hosted by the No. 12 national seed Oregon (42-14). The winners of the two regionals will play in the super regional. If UNC advances, it will host a Super Regional for the second straight season. The Heels are trying to advance to the College World Series in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2008-09.
Here is what to know about the Tar Heels and the other teams in the Chapel Hill Regional, along with a prediction:
UNC baseball has pitching, hitting, Boshamer Stadium
The Tar Heels are arguably a more complete team than the squad that won a regional and super regional in Chapel Hill before advancing to the 2024 College World Series. UNC’s better pitching depth is unquestionably better than it was last season, posting the fourth-best ERA (3.42) nationally and fifth-best WHIP (1.21) ahead of the NCAA Tournament. UNC ace Jake Knapp, the ACC Pitcher of the Year, leads that effort with a 12-0 record and 2.17 ERA.
The Tar Heels don’t put up gaudy numbers offensively, but they’re capable of putting up crooked innings in a variety of ways. UNC catcher Luke Stevenson, the ACC Tournament MVP, is the headliner with 18 home runs, 52 RBIs and 55 walks as a sophomore.
UNC also has the benefit of “Bosh Magic,” logging a 36-9 record in home regional games. The Tar Heels, who won five of their six postseason games at Boshamer Stadium last season, enter the 2025 NCAA Tournament with a 25-6 record in Chapel Hill. They’ll be tough to top at home.
Oklahoma baseball has Kyson Witherspoon, history on Sooners’ side
Oklahoma has a winning record against each of the three teams in the Chapel Hill Regional, including a 2-0 record against the Tar Heels. The Sooners, who picked up a pair of wins against UNC in the 2010 Norman Regional, have some impressive series wins on their résumé this season. In a loaded SEC, Oklahoma’s series wins included No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 10 Ole Miss. Right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon is Oklahoma’s star as one of the top arms in the country. Witherspoon has a 2.47 ERA, is sixth nationally with 120 strikeouts and has just 20 walks.
Nebraska baseball won championship in Omaha, Holy Cross capable of chaos
Nebraska won the Big Ten Tournament championship at Charles Schwab Field to secure an automatic bid for the second straight season. The Cornhuskers will chase a return trip to Omaha for the College World Series, starting their road in Chapel Hill. They won 13 of their last 17 games, including five in a row to snag a tournament berth. Pitching was the story as Nebraska knocked off No. 15 national seed UCLA in the tournament title game. Sophomore pitcher Ty Horn pitched eight scoreless innings against the Bruins.
There’s a Carolina connection at Holy Cross, where Amanda Belichick — the daughter of UNC football coach Bill Belichick — is head coach of the women’s lacrosse program. Moving on to baseball, the Crusaders will compete in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017 and second since 1978 after winning the Patriot League. Holy Cross is 27th nationally in stolen bases (123) and has three pitchers with an ERA under 4.32, led by junior right-hander Danny Macchiarola (9-4, 3.02 ERA).
UNC baseball, Chapel Hill Regional prediction for NCAA Tournament
UNC baseball’s Jackson Van De Brake, Jake Knapp preview Chapel Hill Regional
Following the NCAA Selection Show, UNC baseball players Jackson Van De Brake and Jake Knapp previewed the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s Chapel Hill Regional.
Holy Cross and Nebraska are scrappy clubs capable of putting pressure on Oklahoma and UNC, but the Sooners and Tar Heels appear destined to meet in the regional final. Behind what should be a standing-room-only crowd at Boshamer Stadium, UNC will lean on its pitching depth and timely hits to win the Chapel Hill Regional with a perfect record in the regional.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.