North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Scott Forbes needed a moment to gather himself as he got emotional talking about first baseman Erik Paulsen and the tragedy he suffered last year.
Paulsen delivered a memorable performance on Father’s Day in the 6-2 win against Oklahoma in Game 2 of the Men’s College World Series Finals. He went 3-for-5 at the plate, including North Carolina’s first hit of the game and sparked the decisive three-run third inning.
The performance was special, as Paulsen paid tribute to his father, who died in July 2025, due to cancer. Paulsen’s father, Eril Paulsen Sr., was a former NYPD detective who responded during the September 11 attacks…