24-06-2025
Where does UNC baseball land in final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll of 2025 season?
Is anyone else still thinking about UNC's sudden end to its 2025 baseball season?
It still doesn't feel real that the UNC baseball team missed a second-consecutive trip to the College World Series, but virtually anything can happen in the wild game called baseball.
North Carolina dominated Arizona, 18-2, in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional. Virtually every starting Diamond Heel notched a hit, while five drove in multiple runners. Jake Knapp continued his undefeated streak, later earning National Pitcher of the Year honors.
UNC's bats came to play in Game 2, but pitching was virtually non-existent in a tough loss. North Carolina's offense disappeared in Game 3, outside of Jackson Van De Brake's 3-run home run, but its young bullpen failed to back up Ryan Lynch's hot start.
The Diamond Heels had a roster built to compete for a national championship, but they couldn't close out games when it mattered most. In one final USA TODAY Sports Coaches' Poll for the 2025 college baseball season, UNC ranks eighth, dropping seven spots from first overall.
National champion LSU, rightfully so, leads the final poll. CWS runner-up Coastal Carolina ended second, Arkansas and Oregon State finished third and fourth respectfully, UCLA landed fifth, Louisville finished sixth, followed by Arizona as teams ahead of North Carolina.
The Diamond Heels wave goodbye to plenty of offensive production, needing to replace all starters but Gavin Gallaher in their infield, plus starting catcher Luke Stevenson. Knapp is out of eligibility, so another ace needs to step up.
UNC re-loaded ahead of its 2025 campaign, one in which it surpassed expectations. Will 2026 end in pure joy for North Carolina, or another gut-wrenching defeat?
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