UNC will host USC in a Super Regional at Boshamer Stadium this weekend with a berth in the College World Series on the line, and Game 1 is set for Friday afternoon with USC ace Mason Edwards expected to face UNC’s Ryan Lynch.
All three potential games in the best-of-three series will be played at Boshamer Stadium, giving the Tar Heels homefield advantage as they try to turn a 48-11-1 season and 22-8 ACC record into a trip to Omaha. UNC is the No. 5 national seed after sweeping its regional last weekend, beating VCU in the opener and East Carolina twice.
USC arrives with a 47-16 record and a 20-10 Big Ten mark after winning the College Station Regional. The Trojans lost their opener to Texas State but then ran off four straight victories, outscoring opponents 55-14 to reach the Super Regional — a run that erased the early stumble but leaves questions about how sustainable the surge will be against a top seed on the road.
The winner advances to the College World Series, which begins June 12 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. UNC last reached Omaha in 2024, its 12th CWS appearance, when the Tar Heels were eliminated by Florida State.
This is the first meeting between the two programs since 2012. The matchup pairs two teams that reached their regionals with different narratives: UNC’s season-long consistency and a deep ACC slate versus USC’s late, dominant push through College Station. That contrast sets up a classic Super Regional friction — homefield steadiness against hot streak momentum.
Practical details the fan needs: Game 1 is Friday afternoon, with USC expected to send Edwards to the mound and UNC tabbing Lynch as its starter; if the series is split, Game 3 will be played Sunday, June 7. Because all games are at Boshamer, UNC controls familiar bullpens, batting eyes, and routine — small edges that matter most in a short series.
What to watch when the first pitch is thrown: Edwards’ ability to set the tone in Game 1, and whether USC’s pitching depth can match the 55-14 offensive burst that carried it through College Station. For UNC, run prevention and timely offense against a Trojans staff coming off four successive wins will determine whether home crowds see a clincher or a decider on Sunday.
The central unanswered question heading into Boshamer is straightforward and consequential: will USC’s late regional momentum and the firepower that produced a 55-14 stretch be enough to overcome UNC’s season-long form and the advantage of playing every game at home? Friday’s matchup — Edwards versus Lynch — will go a long way toward answering it.
