OMAHA (WNCN) — After yet another dramatic, walk-off win Friday in their first game in the 2024 NCAA Men’s College World Series, North Carolina now has to get past the top-ranked team in the country.
The No. Tar Heels (48-14) and No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers (56-12) are set to clash Sunday night at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. First pitch is scheduled for shortly after 7 p.m. ET. Lefty Shea Sprague is set to start on the mound for UNC, while Tennessee will start right-handed pitcher Drew Beam.
Both teams needed some late offense to get past their first MCWS opponents. A one-out single from star player Vance Honeycutt on Friday afternoon sent the Tar Heels to the winner’s side of the bracket. The Volunteers, meanwhile, rallied in the bottom of the ninth, scoring four runs to edge out Florida State in Friday’s nightcap.
This will be the eight overall meeting on the baseball diamond between the two schools, with North Carolina holding a 5-2 advantage all-time. It will be the first contest between the squads since the 2019 NCAA Tournament, when the Tar Heels beat the Vols by a score of 5-2 in Chapel Hill.
The winner of tonight’s game will move on to the final of the this of the bracket, which will be played on Wednesday afternoon. The loser will next play Tuesday afternoon in an elimination game against Florida State, who beat Virginia earlier Sunday to keep their season going.