Mike Madej, Gage Gillian reveals critical lesson from last year's regional appearance

North Carolina Baseball took a step forward in 2022. Last season, the three-seeded Tar Heels flamed out in the regional round, losing to regional host and one-seed Texas Tech and two-seed UCLA on Saturday to end their season.

This time around, Carolina played well enough in the regular season to host a regional in Chapel Hill. The Heels lost against VCU and coach Scott Forbes was ejected and suspended for two games. But, UNC still managed to rally and take care of business at home on Sunday and Monday to win their regional and advance to the super-regional. They’ll host Arkansas this weekend in a three game series. Winner goes to the college world series.

North Carolina players were asked following this weekend’s victory what made the difference between this year’s results in the regional and last year’s. Senior pitcher Gage Gillian responded that, “one of the biggest things is having a home crowd. Not having thousands of fans against you.” Gillian seems to think home field advantage played the biggest role in the Tar Heels advancing in 2022.

Senior second baseman Mikey Madej agreed, remembering how important Texas Tech’s crowd was a year ago during the Lubbock regional. “My vision was shaking,” said Madej, noting that the crowd was so loud nobody could hear themselves think. Like Gillian, He believes having that support on their side this year helped the Heels rally to advance.

WATCH: Fresh off suspension, Scott Forbes celebrates UNC punching ticket to Super Regional

Monday night the Tar Heels defeated VCU in the final game of the Chapel Hill regional to secure a spot in the next round of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.

A huge sigh of relief for UNC coach Scott Forbes. He was kicked out of the first game between the Tar Heels and the Rams, the opening game of the regional for both teams, for lambasting the umpire crew following what he thought was a wrong ruling on a dropped infield fly. Alas, all Forbes’ tantrum did was land him a two-game suspension.

However, North Carolina battled out of the loser’s bracket and back into the final series without Forbes, then were able to take care of business in the last game of the regional vs. VCU when he returned. Following the game, Forbes basked in then euphoria of the win.

Here’s Forbes in celebration mode.

What Coach Forbes said 🗣🗣🗣#FreakinAwesome pic.twitter.com/8JbqqPXxyk

— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 7, 2022