OMAHA, Neb. (WNCN/AP) – The University of North Carolina baseball team began its return to Omaha with a dramatic 3-2 win over fellow Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Virginia in the opening game of the College World Series on Friday afternoon.
After a pulling off a heroic moment in the Super Regional opener against West Virginia earlier this postseason, Vance Honeycutt stepped up to the plate once again to hit a game-winning RBI to capture the victory for the Tar Heels (48-14). His single brought home Jackson Van De Brake from third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
This is the first loss that Virginia (46-16) has suffered so far in the NCAA Tournament.
Four of North Carolina’s six wins in the NCAA Tournament have come on its final at-bat. Virginia has lost five straight CWS games since 2021, each of the last three by one run.
Van De Brake, a .194 hitter whose last hit came on May 23, pinch hit for Alberto Osuna to start the bottom of the ninth and punched a liner inside the right-field line for a double off Chase Hungate. He then moved to third on Alex Madera’s sacrifice bunt, and Colby Wilkerson fouled out to the catcher to bring up projected first-round draft pick Honeycutt.
Virginia coach Brian O’Connor elected to have Hungate (7-2) pitch to Honeycutt rather than intentionally walk him. Honeycutt drove a 2-1 pitch just over shortstop Griff O’Ferrall’s glove into left field, bringing Van De Brake home and prompting the rest of the Tar Heels to pour out of the dugout to mob Honeycutt behind second base.
With their deep rivalry, UNC and Virginia had met 321 previous times on the diamond, with the Tar Heels holding a 192-126-3 all-time series lead. This, however, was the first time the two schools met in the baseball postseason. The Cavaliers won this year’s season series, winning two of three games in Charlottesville.
This marks the 12th trip to the College World Series for UNC and its eighth appearance since 2006, but the last time the Diamond Heels advanced this far was in 2018. Virginia has made it to Omaha seven times, with each trip happening since 2019.
UNC will now advance to play on Sunday night against the winner of Tennessee-Florida State. Meanwhile, Virginia will face the loser between the Volunteers and the Seminoles in an elimination game on Sunday afternoon.