OMAHA (WNCN) — After a loss Sunday to the top-ranked team in the country, the Diamond Heels now have their backs against the wall in the 2024 NCAA Men’s College World Series.
No. 4 North Carolina (48-15) will have to fight off fellow Atlantic Coast Conference team No. 8 Florida State (48-16) for the chance to extend their stay in Omaha. First pitch is scheduled for shortly after 2 p.m. ET at Charles Schwab Field.
Right-handed pitcher Aidan Haugh will be starting on the mound for UNC, while lefty Andrew Armstrong will be FSU’s starting pitcher. The Tar Heels are the designated home team.
Though they play in the same conference, North Carolina and Florida State have not faced each other on the baseball diamond since 2022, when the Tar Heels swept the Seminoles in Chapel Hill. But FSU owns the all-time series, posting a 72-39 record overall against UNC, including a 4-2 win in the 1989 College World Series. That game marks the only other time the two teams have faced each other at this point in the postseason.
The winner of this afternoon’s game will move on to play Wednesday afternoon against No. 1 Tennessee. They’ll then have to beat the Volunteers twice in this double-elimination tournament to move on to the 2024 Men’s College World Series championship series. The losing team will see their season come to an end.