Scott Forbes: North Carolina will likely start Aidan Haugh against Florida State

After losing in the College World Series to the Tennessee Volunteers, head coach Scott Forbes and the North Carolina Tar Heels are going to regroup and get ready to take on the Florida State Seminoles in an elimination game.

Ahead of that game, Forbes shared that he feels North Carolina has the pitching to compete with Florida State and that he expects to start Aidan Haugh in the game.

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“I probably should rephrase that,” Scott Forbes said. “We have the pitching, I think, to compete with Florida State. That’s all you can focus on now. I have to keep the guys (indiscernible). I’ll talk to them tonight when we eat. You don’t look at what you have to do; you just look at what you can do right now. And that is literally going back and getting a good night’s rest and hydrating. It was hot out today. Getting our good lift in tomorrow. And then when we play Florida State I do feel like we’ve got enough guys that we can compete.”

This season, Florida State has had an explosive offense. The Seminoles led the ACC in home runs while being second in batting average and slugging percentage. That success has carried over into the College World Series, with 18 runs over their first two games in Omaha.

“It’s a really good offensive lineup we’ll take it pitch by pitch,” Forbes said. “If we beat Florida State then hopefully we’ll have enough guys to compete against Tennessee again. We’ll start Aidan Haugh most likely.”

Aidan Haugh is in his first season at North Carolina after playing two years at Fayetteville Tech. This year, North Carolina has used him both as a starter and as a reliever. He has 21 appearances, seven of which are starts with an ERA of 4.53 in 51.2 innings. He’s also struck out 58 on the season.

Despite both being ACC schools, this will be North Carolina and Florida State’s first meeting this season.

Scott Forbes on his message to UNC following loss

North Carolina is still alive in the College World Series despite the tough loss to Tennessee. With that, Scott Forbes wants them to remember they still have every chance to win it.

“Yeah, that’s what I told them. I said, move on. We have a 24-hour rule when we win. But after we lose, even quicker. You’ve got to walk out and it’s gone. The great thing about this format, I’ve been in it. In 2006 we won the first three, won the first four. Didn’t end up winning it. In 2007 we lost the second game and we made it to the national championship,” Forbes said.

“So, feel like we have the pitching to bounce back and I told them to keep your heads up. You’re at the College World Series. You have a great opportunity ahead of you. We’ll get back, take a shower, turn your loops in, eat a meal together, get some sleep and get back to work tomorrow.”