WATCH: Danny Serretti sums up what ACC title appearance means for UNC
Following a late rally in the final two innings of Saturday’s semifinal matchup against Notre Dame in the ACC Baseball Tournament, North Carolina advanced to Sunday’s championship game. The Tar Heels have been led by fourth-year shortstop Danny Serretti, who has come through with some big at-bats throughout the week for UNC.
Entering the eighth inning on Saturday, UNC and Notre Dame were all knotted up at 2-2. The Tar Heels then added three runs in the eighth, including a two-run double from Serretti to give UNC a 5-2 lead. UNC added two more runs in the ninth, taking down Notre Dame 7-2.
After UNC’s victory, Serretti broke down the battle that the two teams had in the semifinal matchup. UNC head coach Scott Forbes knew it wasn’t easy, but to Serretti, that made the win that much sweeter.
“We knew it was going to be hard to score today,” Serretti said. “Just looking at the game, they had very tough pitching. So we knew it was going to be a tough game, and [Coach Scott Forbes] kept saying it’s more fulfilling when it’s tough. We just stuck with it and I’m glad we came out with it.”
Serretti on UNC advancing to the championship: ‘We’re ready for it’
Serretti has been around UNC’s program for four years now. He hit .299 as a freshman in 2019, and smacked nine home runs last season. So far this season, Serretti is hitting an impressive .367 with seven home runs, 44 RBI, and 30 walks.
In the ACC Tournament, Serretti has continued to come through. In UNC’s first game of the tournament against Clemson, he smacked an RBI single into left field in the first inning and later walked in another run in the fourth. Serretti had two hits and two RBI against Virginia Tech, including a solo home run in the fourth.
“It’s great,” said Serretti. “I was able to experience it my freshman year in 2019. It’s going to be a great environment, but we’re ready for it, we’re prepared. We’ve been treating every game like a postseason game for the last month, because we’ve had to. So we’re excited. It’s going to be fun.”
UNC is currently a projected regional host for the NCAA Tournament that kicks off next week. A victory in the ACC title game over NC State would not only be another rivalry win, but it would likely secure that the Tar Heels are playing in Chapel Hill next weekend. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 12 noon ET.