Sam Angelo, UNC baseball silence 'little birdie,' showcase power in NCAA win vs Oklahoma

Chapel Hill, NC — In front of a boisterous Boshamer Stadium crowd on Saturday night, Sam Angelo and the North Carolina Tar Heels sent a loud and decisive message to the college baseball world: don’t underestimate this team. After a week of social media chatter and subtle digs—most notably from a “little birdie” who cast doubts on UNC’s postseason readiness—the Tar Heels responded with authority, unleashing an offensive barrage in an 8-3 NCAA Tournament win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Chapel Hill Regional.

From the opening pitch, North Carolina looked locked in. The energy in the dugout, the aggressive plate appearances, and the crisp execution all pointed to a team that not only believed in its championship potential but was determined to shut down any noise suggesting otherwise.

At the center of it all? Slugger Sam Angelo, who delivered arguably his most impactful performance in Carolina blue.

The ‘Little Birdie’ That Sparked a Fire

In the days leading up to the NCAA Tournament regional opener, whispers emerged from the college baseball community—primarily on X (formerly Twitter). A cryptic post from a local Oklahoma blogger cited a “little birdie” predicting that North Carolina was “primed for an early exit” and would “crumble under pressure if Oklahoma applies heat early.”

Those words clearly circulated through the Tar Heels’ clubhouse. While UNC head coach Scott Forbes dismissed the chatter publicly, players like Angelo didn’t hide the fact that the comment added fuel to the fire.

“We’re not the type to respond on social media,” Angelo said in the postgame press conference. “But we hear it. And when someone says we’re going to fold, we take that personally. We wanted to respond the right way—on the field.”

Respond they did.

Sam Angelo: Built for the Big Moment

UNC fans have known all season that Sam Angelo has the power and poise to change a game in an instant. On Saturday night, the junior designated hitter reminded the nation.

Angelo went 3-for-4 with a pair of towering home runs and four RBIs. His first shot, a 413-foot moonshot to left-center in the third inning, gave Carolina a 3-1 lead and completely swung the momentum. His second, a laser that barely cleared the wall in right, effectively broke Oklahoma’s spirit in the sixth, stretching the lead to 6-2.

“Angelo is a guy who doesn’t get rattled,” Forbes said. “He thrives on competition, and he lives for these big moments. That’s the kind of guy you need in your lineup in June.”

Angelo now has 17 home runs on the season and continues to build his case as one of the most feared hitters in the ACC.

Tar Heels’ Offense Clicks in High Gear

While Angelo was the star, he wasn’t alone. UNC’s offensive performance was comprehensive. Senior outfielder Vance Honeycutt, the team’s heartbeat and emotional leader, added a double, a stolen base, and a highlight-reel diving catch in center field. His presence continues to steady the team in pressure-packed games.

Sophomore catcher Luke Stevenson chipped in with a pair of RBIs, including a clutch two-out single in the fifth that extended UNC’s lead. Johnny Castagnozzi, always dependable in the postseason, had two hits and worked the count in several pivotal at-bats, helping to tire out Oklahoma starter James Hitt by the fourth inning.

“We talked all week about being patient but aggressive,” Stevenson said. “That means jumping on mistakes but also working counts, making pitchers uncomfortable. I think we executed that perfectly tonight.”

Indeed, UNC forced Oklahoma to burn through four pitchers and amassed 11 hits, six walks, and three stolen bases—showcasing both power and precision.

Oklahoma Struggles to Match UNC’s Energy

To their credit, the Sooners didn’t go down quietly. Catcher Easton Carmichael launched a solo home run in the second inning that briefly tied the game at 1-1, and shortstop Dakota Harris added an RBI double in the fifth. But Oklahoma struggled to mount any sustained rallies. They stranded eight runners and went just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Part of that was due to North Carolina’s defensive sharpness. In addition to Honeycutt’s diving catch in center, shortstop Colby Wilkerson turned a slick double play to escape a jam in the sixth. On the mound, starter Shea Sprague wasn’t overpowering, but he battled through five gritty innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just two runs while striking out four.

“We weren’t perfect tonight, but we played hard and played smart,” Forbes said. “In the postseason, that’s often what makes the difference.”

Message Sent: UNC Isn’t Going Anywhere

This win wasn’t just about surviving and advancing. It was about pride. It was about identity. It was about proving, once again, that North Carolina is not just a basketball school—it’s a baseball force to be reckoned with in June.

The Tar Heels, now 44-13 on the season, are in prime position to take control of the Chapel Hill Regional. With a win on Sunday, they can punch their ticket to the Super Regional round for the third time in five years.

“There’s something special about this group,” Honeycutt said. “We’ve got experience, we’ve got talent, and we’ve got heart. That combination is dangerous.”

Postgame Reactions: Silence from the ‘Birdie’

Interestingly, the account that originally dropped the “little birdie” comment was silent in the hours following the game. Several UNC fans took to social media to playfully ask the poster for an update, using chirping bird GIFs and memes of Sam Angelo flexing.

UNC’s own baseball social media team couldn’t resist joining in, tweeting a photo of Angelo mid-swing with the caption: “Little birdie? More like big bat ❌ #GoHeels.”

Even Coach Forbes cracked a smile when asked about the online chatter.

“We’ll let our play do the talking,” he said with a smirk. “But it’s always fun to prove people wrong.”

Looking Ahead: Tar Heels Poised for Deep Run

With the offense firing on all cylinders and the pitching staff holding its own, North Carolina looks every bit the contender. They’ll face either LSU or Coastal Carolina next, and a win would secure a 2-0 start in the regional—a massive step toward Omaha.

For Angelo, the focus is already shifting.

“Tonight was fun, but we’re not satisfied,” he said. “We’ve got more work to do. We’re chasing something bigger.”

Bigger, indeed. The Tar Heels haven’t reached the College World Series since 2018, but with this group’s leadership, depth, and swagger, that drought could soon be over.

The Power of Belief—and Bulletin Board Material

It’s often said that baseball is a game of inches and intangibles. Chemistry. Confidence. Chip on the shoulder. For UNC, the “little birdie” comment wasn’t just trash talk—it became a rallying cry.

“We know who we are,” Honeycutt said. “But every now and then, a little outside noise helps us turn it up another notch.”

Sam Angelo turned it up to eleven.

The Sooners, like many before them, learned a hard lesson under the lights at Boshamer Stadium: don’t poke the bear. Or in this case, don’t chirp at the Tar Heel.

Final Score: North Carolina 8, Oklahoma 3

UNC advances to the winner’s bracket and will play Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. The road to Omaha runs through Chapel Hill—and if Saturday’s performance was any indication, the Tar Heels plan to be riding shotgun.

Stat Leaders – UNC vs. Oklahoma