Heading into last weekend with a 17-2 record and 11 straight wins, the UNC baseball team looked to be one of college’s best in the early going.
North Carolina would face another tough test in the Miami (FL) Hurricanes, who won the College World Series four times and have made 49 NCAA Tournament. The Diamond Heels would go on to get mercy-ruled in Game 1, lost on a walk-off in Game 2, then mercy-rule Miami in the series finale on Sunday.
Even though UNC maintained a 17-4 record, it lost its second series on the year (first was to ECU in February). As a result, North Carolina dropped to 20th in the latest D1 Baseball Rankings.
🆕 D1Baseball Top 25 Rankings: Week Five
(Presented by @NettingPros)It was a week of true carnage in the Top 25 Rankings as @RazorbackBSB leads the way, while @FSUBaseball headlines four new entrants. https://t.co/nakODmS9vL
— D1Baseball (@d1baseball) March 18, 2024
The Diamond Heels (17-4) sit between fellow ACC program Virginia Tech (18th), plus an SEC school in Mississippi State. The Hokies sit at 14-4, while the Bulldogs are 15-6.
UNC is currently playing UNCW (Tuesday, March 19), then hosts Georgia Teach for a 3-game weekend series. The Yellow Jackets have won their past nine games, including a sweep last weekend of formerly-ranked NC State.
North Carolina needs to come away with a series victory against Georgia Tech. Beating a good team once is a solid effort, but winning series matter a lot this early in conference play.
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