North Carolina first baseman Erik Paulsen, who was named the Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player Erik Paulsen and relief pitcher Jackson Rose spoke to the media after the Tar Heels’ 9-3 win over East Carolina on Sunday, which advanced them to the super regional.
It is the third straight year UNC has advanced to the super regional and hosted it. The Tar Heels will face the winner of No. 12 seed Texas A&M and USC from the College Station Regional.
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Here’s what they both said below..
Erik Paulsen
Clemson outfielder Bryce Clavon (1) dives back to first under the tag of University of North Carolina junior Erik Paulsen (44) during the bottom of the third inning at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Friday, April 10, 2026.
On going 3-0 in a tough regional…
“We knew it was the region of death for everyone else. We knew we were going to go out there and play our game of baseball, and when we play our best, nobody can beat us.” (Jackson Rose: “He’s right.”)
On his emotional day …
”It really hit me after I hit the double in the bottom of the eighth, and then went back out there in the top of the ninth, just looking around Boshamer Stadium, seeing how packed it was, and wishing my dad was in the stands. It was definitely emotional, and while I was taking all that, a pop-up got hit to me. But it was great, my mom up in the stands and she’s the strongest woman I know. I was really happy to see her smile and I can’t wait to see her when I get out of here.”
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Jackson Rose
May 31, 2026; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels pitcher Jackson Rose (35) pitches against the East Carolina Pirates during game 6 of the Chapel Hill Regional at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-Imagn Images
On what his plan was for the game coming out of the bullpen…
“I didn’t know what the plan was. I just went out there and pitched every pitch I could, and got out of every inning I could. And if they were going to let me go back out there, I was going to do everything I could to make us win.”
On learning from the veterans on the team…
“Being around the older guys and seeing how good of men they are to me, it kind of just helps going in here every day, being around them that much easier, and makes me that much better of a person.
On friendship with Caden Glauber…
“(Having Caden Glauber around) it’s sweet. Me and Caden are buddies. We come to the games together, and we’re living together right now in the dorm, and we’re always hanging out, we’re always close. We were here alone in the summer, and we were always a little nervous about getting here, and then we got here and it all just came together. The culture here, all the older guys were great to us.”
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC baseball: Paulsen, Rose on ‘region of death’ win, super regional
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