University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
North Carolina
Pitt Set for ACC Semifinal Matchup with No. 2 Seed North Carolina
5/23/2026 9:29:00 AM | Baseball
PITTSBURGH – The Panthers (33-23, 11-19 ACC) advanced to the semifinal round of the ACC Baseball Championship where they will face the No. 2 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (44-10, 22-8 ACC) on Saturday afternoon at 3 PM.
Down to their final strike on Friday, Kai Wagner hit a three-run home run to defeat No. 3 seeded Florida State in the ACC Quarterfinal. The Panthers have won three games this week and are now one of only four teams remaining in the ACC Baseball Championship.
Top of the Order
• Pitt's three-game winning streak is their longest in an ACC Tournament. The Panthers have a 10-7 record during ACC postseason play and will play in their third ACC Semifinal since 2018 on Saturday.
•Friday's win was the seventh time since March that the Panthers won a game after they were tied or trailing in the sixth inning or later.
• This season, Pitt eclipsed the 30-win mark for the first time under Mike Bell, and the first time since joining the ACC. It is their first 30-win campaign since 2013.
• The Oakland Lumber Company is open for business. Pitt's offense leads the nation in base on balls
(392), ranks sixth in OBP (.435), eighth in home runs (108) ninth in SLG (.541), 10th in scoring (8.6) and 11th in runs scored (484).
• Pitt had multiple position players earn All-ACC honors for the first time since 2021 this season. OF Lorenzo Carrierwas named All-ACC First Team while SS Caden Dulin earned Second Team honors.
• The Panther offense leads the entire country in walks this year with 392. They have also eclipsed the century mark in home runs, hitting 108 this season. Pitt was one of only two teams in the nation with 350+ walks and 100+ home runs in the regular season.
• Lorenzo Carrier is the third Panther in program history to hit 20+ home runs in a single season. He was recently named as a Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist in addition to being honored as one of the nine semifinalists for the Tony Gwynn Community Service Trophy.
• SS Caden Dulin was named as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award which is given to the nation's most outstanding shortstop. During ACC play, Dulin hit .402 with 49 hits, 24 RBI, 24 runs scored, seven home runs, seven doubles and 77 total bases.
• Pitt's 16 runs in the first round on Tuesday night against Louisville were their most in an ACC Tournament game. The Panther pitching staff combined for 14 strikeouts against Florida State on Friday -- also their most in an ACC Tournament game.
Pitt vs. North Carolina History
SERIES BEGAN: 2014
SERIES OVERALL: UNC leads 25-12
IN POSTSEASON: Pitt leads 2-1
AT NEUTRAL SITE: Pitt leads 2-1
FIRST MEETING: 3/8/14; UNC won, 9-5
LAST MEETING: 5/10/26; UNC won, 7-3
LAST PITT WIN: 4/26/25; 4-2
LAST NORTH CAROLINA WIN: 5/10/26; 7-3
Saturday, May 23 at 3 PM
LHP Antonio Doganiero (Pitt) vs. RHP Ryan Lynch (UNC)
Broadcast Info
TV: ACC Network
Play-By-Play: Mike Monaco
Color Analyst: Gaby Sanchez
Sideline Reporter: Taylor McGregor
