CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Saturday, May 23, the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers 13-5 during the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament.
The win pushes North Carolina to the ACC Tournament title game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Sunday, May 24. The Tar Heels are looking to win their second-straight ACC Tournament and their third one this decade.
North Carolina head coach Scott Forbes talked about the win for his team.
“Our guys came out ready to play,” Forbes said. “The offense was outstanding. It was a great team win, and I am excited for our players who get a chance to play in the ACC Championship against Georgia Tech.”
Rom Kellis V with two home runs, and North Carolina’s offense explodes for 22 hits
The long ball was working for North Carolina against Pitt in their lopsided victory. The Tar Heels had six home runs as a team, and nine-hole hitter Rom Kellis V had two of them. He finished the game with three total hits and five RBIs. Kellis V led North Carolina in RBIs.
Other North Carolina players who hit home runs were Gavin Gallaher, Erik Paulsen, and Colin Hynek. Gallaher’s home run was a two-run shot that was in the bottom of the first inning. It tied the game and was a strong response to an early 2-0 lead for the Panthers.
Cooper Nicholson had the other home run for North Carolina. His solo home run in the sixth inning travelled 410 feet out to left field and bumped North Carolina’s lead out to 9-4.
As a team, North Carolina finished with 22 hits. Six Tar Heel hitters finished with multiple hits. Kellis V, Nicholson, and Macon Winslow had three hits apiece.
North Carolina’s hitting leader in the game was Jake Schaffner, who had four hits in the game. He was a home run shy of the cycle with two singles, a double, and a triple.
Schaffner has been on fire in Charlotte during the ACC Tournament. In two games, he has six hits and four RBIs. Four of his six hits have been for extra bases.
The shortstop talked about his two big performances against Virginia Tech and Pitt.
“I give a lot of credit to our coaching staff for preparing us for games,” Schaffner said. “I think I’m just getting the right pitches to hit, making good contact with them, and seeing the ball really well.”
Walker McDuffie and Matthew Matthijs come up big out of the North Carolina bullpen
The North Carolina bullpen held Pitt down offensively once starting pitcher Ryan Lynch exited the game. Walker McDuffie entered the game in relief for Lynch and delivered in 2 2/3 innings of work. The right-hander allowed just one run and two hits. McDuffie also struck out three Pitt hitters.
After McDuffie exited the game, Matthew Matthijs came on in relief and shut down the Panthers as well. In 1 1/3 innings of work, Matthijs allowed no hits, no runs, and no walks. He had one strikeout as well, which was the final out he recorded during his outing.
Pitt head coach Mike Bell talked about McDuffie and Matthijs and the big performances they had against his team.
“McDuffie is one of the best relievers in the country,” Bell said. “He can throw consecutive days and has plus stuff. Matthijs did the job of filling up the strike zone. They also play elite defense, and when you have that, you are going to have a great pitching staff as well.”
ACC Championship time and where to watch
The 2026 ACC Championship game will be Sunday, May 24, at Truist Field between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The game is at noon ET and can be watched on ESPN2.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: North Carolina Rom Kellis (25) runs the bases during an NCAA baseball game on Friday, March 20, 2026, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
