The Diamond Heels have made it to Omaha and hope to win their first ever national title. UNC is no stranger to the state of Nebraska, but time and time again things have always fallen apart. This is now their third time making it to the CWS in four years, Scott Forbes hopes that his team can make this one count. We’ll find out if they have what it takes starting Friday when they face off against Ole Miss.
The question on everyone’s mind going into the first game is: does UNC have what it takes to win
the national title? Their chances are decent since some of the top teams were eliminated in the Super Regionals, but it is far from guaranteed. That said, let’s take a look at three keys to UNC finally getting the job done in Omaha.
Caden Glauber’s continued dominance
UNC freshman pitcher Caden Glauber has been having a monster 2026 season. The ACC Freshman of the Year is landing in Omaha with a 2.20 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 70 innings. The Heels have yet to lose in a game that he has pitched in, which is probably because opponents have a .180 batting average against him.
Things got a little tight for Glauber in the third game of the Super Regionals against USC, but ultimately he came out on top. He finished allowing six hits, three earned runs, and threw three strikeouts in 7.1 innings. Things looked a bit dark for the Heels until the bottom of the ninth when Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull helped put away the Trojans for good. As long as Glauber can keep up his high level pitching, the Heels have a decent chance to make a deep run in the CWS.
Jason DeCaro’s confidence soaring after shutout against USC
RHP Jason DeCaro is destined to make his way to the Major Leagues once he is done in Chapel Hill, but first he would like to put a ring on his finger. That couldn’t have been any clearer when he threw a complete game shutout in UNC’s elimination game against USC. What was just as impressive was the fact that DeCaro only allowed two hits, effectively making sure the Trojans’ confidence was shaken before having to deal with Caden Glauber.
DeCaro will make his way to Omaha off the heels of what was one of the most impressive postseason pitching performances in the Scott Forbes era. Between DeCaro and Glauber, the Heels have a solid chance of fending off some of the most high-powered offenses in Omaha, but the question will be whether or not the bullpen can keep things humming when either of these studs get pulled. If DeCaro or Glauber go the distance, all we can hope for is that they can repeat the same magic from the Super Regionals.
Can Owen Hull continue to light up the baseball?
While there’s been plenty to highlight in the pitching department, there has been a lot to enjoy from Owen Hull. The junior outfielder is currently leading the team in batting average (.390), on-base percentage (.505), and OPS (1.094), and was able to hit the walk-off double against USC to send the Heels to the College World Series.
Here is what Hull had to say after the win over the Trojans:
“I have no words to describe it,” Hull said. “I’m out here having as much fun as I can, and there’s no other group of boys or coach I’d rather play for. I love this team so much.”
Hull looks to continue his dominance this Friday when the Heels take on Ole Miss. The real question will be who else around him will be able to contribute, and it’ll be hard to see a world where guys like Jake Schaffner, Gavin Gallaher, and Erik Paulson don’t provide some juice of their own. The Heels are certainly built like a team that could win the whole darn thing, but perhaps it’s safe to consult an Etsy Witch before things kick off Friday just in case.
