The bats were on fire Tuesday night as No. 2 North Carolina wrapped up its final midweek game of the 2026 season with a thrilling 13-7 victory over UNC Wilmington at Brooks Field. The Tar Heels (41-9-1) put on a power display for the ages, smashing a season-high eight home runs—four from each side—in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats for nearly four hours.
Every starter in Carolina's lineup contributed at least one hit, with eight players crossing the plate and the team racking up 13 runs on 13 hits and six walks. The Tar Heels improved to an impressive 19-0 this season when scoring in double figures, proving once again that when their offense gets rolling, they're nearly unstoppable. The game lasted 3 hours, 52 minutes, with five Tar Heel pitchers combining for 12 strikeouts.
Veteran right-hander Matthew Matthijs (3-0) earned the win, working 3 1/3 innings of relief while striking out four and allowing just one run on two hits and three walks. Left-hander Tom Chmielewski closed the door in the eighth and ninth, tossing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and only one hit allowed to notch his first save of the season.
Carolina wasted no time setting the tone. In the top of the first, Gavin Gallaher launched a 405-foot, three-run bomb to center field—his 10th of the season—scoring Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull. UNCW answered quickly when Mason Hughes crushed a 377-foot solo shot to left in the bottom half, but the Tar Heels weren't done.
The second inning saw Owen Hull deliver the biggest blast of the night: a 466-foot, three-run homer to left-center, his fifth of the year, bringing home Colin Hynek and Schaffner. UNCW's Matous Bubenik singled in a run in the bottom of the inning, but the long-ball duel was just heating up. In the third, Erik Paulsen crushed a 400-foot solo homer to left for his eighth of the season, only for UNCW's Trevor Lucas to counter with a 416-foot solo shot to right-center.
Carolina kept the pressure on in the fourth. Hull's groundout scored Carter French with an unearned run, moving Schaffner to third. Gallaher followed with a ground-rule double to center to plate Schaffner, extending the lead. The Tar Heels' offense never let up, proving why they're one of the most feared lineups in the nation.
For fans who love power at the plate, this game was a showcase of everything that makes baseball thrilling—and a reminder that a great swing starts with the right gear. Whether you're looking to channel your inner Gallaher or just want to step up your game, the right bat, glove, and cleats can make all the difference.