Tar Heels to 'Pitch Off' in Regional Opener, Ryan Lynch to Start Against VCU

Key Points:

• North Carolina head coach Scott Forbes will start sophomore Ryan Lynch in the NCAA Tournament opener against VCU, marking the first time since 2023 that the Tar Heels have "pitched off" their usual Friday starter, Jason DeCaro.
• Forbes expressed confidence in both Lynch and DeCaro as potential Friday starters, deciding Lynch was the better matchup for VCU, with DeCaro scheduled to start Saturday against either East Carolina or Tennessee.
• Lynch, who earned Third-Team All-ACC honors, has settled into Carolina’s Saturday role but will now start Friday, despite a recent rough outing against Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
• DeCaro, UNC’s ace with a 10-2 record and a 2.03 ERA entering postseason play, will start Saturday’s game and has prior success against East Carolina, pitching eight shutout innings in a 10-0 win earlier this season.
• UNC’s pitching staff faces pressure to perform after limited innings in the ACC Tournament, with Forbes emphasizing the team's focus on preparation and execution regardless of the opponent.