UNC baseball prepares for top 10 showdown with Coastal Carolina

They rank 26th nationally in total stolen bases and 27th in stolen bases per game. Seven Chanticleers have at least 10 steals this season, and they also rank second in the nation in sacrifice bunts. For North Carolina, controlling the running game will be critical to keeping Coastal’s offense in check.

Players to watch from UNC

Jun 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina infielder Gavin Gallaher (5) jersey during the seventh inning of the Super Regionals game against Arizona in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Common midweek pitchers

• LHP Jackson Rose (3-0): 1.39 ERA, 3-0, 32.1 IP, allowed just five runs on 18 hits, 15 walks, 29 strikeouts
• RHP Walker McDuffie (6-1): 2.33 ERA, 44.1 IP, 11 runs on 26 hits, 4 saves, 25 walks, 57 strikeouts
• RHP Matthew Matthijs:
• RHP Boston Flannery (1-0): 3.06 ERA, 17.2 IP, 11 runs (six earned) on 15 hits, 16 walks and 17 strikeouts

Position Players

• OF Owen Hull: .389 batting average, 65 hits, 17 doubles, four home runs, 55 RBI, team-high 15 stolen bases
• INF Jake Schaffner: 344 batting average, 62 hits, 12 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 31 RBIs
• C Macon Winslow: 306 batting average, 44 hits, 10 doubles, seven home runs, 38 RBI
• INF Erik Paulsen: .296 batting average, 48 hits, seven doubles, seven home runs, 38 RBI

Players to watch from Coastal Carolina

OMAHA, NEBRASKA - JUNE 22: Darin Horn #39 of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers pitches during the seventh inning against the LSU Tigers in Game 2 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals at Charles Schwab Field on June 22, 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)

Common midweek pitchers

• RHP Darin Horn (6-1): 3.40 ERA, 5 saves (team-high), 42.1 IP, 46 hits, 23 runs allowed (16 earned), 16 walks, 62 streikeouts
• RHP Jaxon Appleman (0-1): 7.62 ERA, 28.1 IP, 23 hirs, 27 runs allowed (23 earned), 18 walks, 32 streikouts
• RHP Jackson Smallets (0-1): 3.75 ERA, 24.0 IP, 22 hits allowed, 10 runs allowed (all earned), 14 walks, 16 strikeouts
• RHP Connor Kane (2-1): 6.26 ERA, 21.0 IPm 29 hitsm 16 runs allowed (15 earned), 12 walks, 16 strikeouts

Position players

• OF Dean Mihos:

  • Preseason All-Sun Belt selection and member of 2025 Men's College World Series All-Tournament Team
  • Team-highs in batting average (.320), hits (55) and doubles (12) to go along with 46 runs, five home runs and 33 RBIs

• OF Rex Watson

  • San Diego transfer where he was an All-WCC selection as a freshman
  • Batting .265 with 40 hits, six doubles, one triple and team highs in home runs (11) and RBIs (47).

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC baseball vs Coastal Carolina: Preview, key to victory, players