Scott Forbes Praises Tar Heels' Commanding Performance in Regional Play

North Carolina's head coach Scott Forbes expressed his satisfaction following the Tar Heels' 9-3 victory against East Carolina on Sunday, a win that propelled them into the super regional round. This marks the third consecutive year that UNC has reached the super regionals while also serving as the host team. The Tar Heels are set to compete against the winner of the matchup between No. 12 seed Texas A&M and USC from the College Station Regional.

In his post-game remarks, Forbes highlighted his team's impressive performance throughout the Chapel Hill Regional. “Our guys, they showed up. The definition of a team. I watched (Saturday’s) game again last night, and I see our guys celebrating that aren’t everyday players. That’s the mark of a great team. And our guys played well top to bottom all weekend,” he stated. He emphasized the importance of the players’ dedication, noting, “They put in work since August 17. That’s why we won that regional. We’re process-oriented, though. We’re going to move on, and we’re going to start busting it tomorrow in the weight room to get ready for this super regional here at Boshamer Stadium.”

Forbes also commended Folger Boaz for his standout performance on the mound. He described Boaz as “outstanding, phenomenal teammate, phenomenal leader for us,” and praised his ability to set the tone early in the game. Forbes remarked, “Walker McDuffie came in, got a big double play ball, and then Jackson Rose was outstanding. They just pick each other up.” He explained that the coaching staff believes Boaz performs better as a starter, while Rose is adapting well to his bullpen role.

The head coach noted the team's strategy of being aggressive from the outset. “We wanted to strike early and work hard to get a lead, even if that meant bunting and that type of thing,” Forbes shared. He acknowledged the pressure this placed on their opponents and commended their pitcher, Norby, for his gutsy performance despite being called upon early in the game. “We had a couple big swings of the bat against him and didn’t let him settle in, so that was big for us,” Forbes concluded.

As the Tar Heels gear up for the super regional, their momentum from the regional sweep sets a promising tone for the challenges ahead.