Down two runs to USC in the eighth inning of Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, North Carolina roared back to win 4-3, advancing to its second College World Series in three seasons.
Owen Hull provided the game-ending fireworks, mashing his fourth double of the day on a 2-1 pitch to left-center field. Kevin Takeuchi slid to his right on the warning track, just missed Hull’s deep fly and the Boshamer Stadium crowd exploded into jubilation.
Cooper Nicholson worked his way back from a 1-out, 0-2 hole in the ninth to draw a walk. Carter French singled through the right side of the infield, UNC leadoff man Jake Schaffner scored Nicholson on a sac fly to right-center and Hull ended the Super Regional.
Caden Glauber worked his way around a balk and two solo shots on Sunday, striking out 11 Trojans across 7 1/3 frames. Jackson Rose and Walker McDuffie pitched near-perfect in relief, with McDuffie earning the win.
The Diamond Heels lost Game 1 by a 9-5 mark, then rebounded to shut USC out in a 4-0 win Saturday. Key players stepped up in big moments, while unlikely heroes like French also delivered. North Carolina played far from perfect baseball, but did just enough to win.
As a result, UNC will be going back to Omaha, facing Ole Miss on Friday in Game 1. As you prepare to watch the College World Series, here’s five takeaways from the Diamond Heels’ Super Regional
Hull enjoyed one of the best, single-game postseason performances in UNC baseball history on Sunday, recording four doubles and driving in two runs, while scoring in the eighth.
Hull’s walk-off double was the final punch in a lights-out weekend for the George Mason transfer. Across three games, Hull collected 9 hits in 13 plate appearances (.692 batting average).
Hull’s big weekend improves his team-leading average to .390 and RBI total to 81. As long as Hull is hot, the Diamond Heels are in great position to win games.
Ryan Lynch hurled nearly six innings in Game 1, striking out seven USC batters. Jason DeCaro pitched a complete-game shutout in Game 2, striking out eight Trojans while allowing two hits and one walk. Glauber struck out 11 USC batters on Sunday, working around three runs.
If North Carolina’s starting rotation can carry its Super Regional success over to Omaha, the likelihood of a first CWS title in program history greatly increases.
A big reason behind postseason success, for any team, is its ability to hit with runners in scoring position. The Diamond Heels were just 3-for-26 with RISP in their own Super Regional.
If UNC wants to fight its way through Omaha, hitters have to producers with runners on base. The pitching gets better as tournament play gets deeper, so North Carolina is in for a tall task.
Facing elimination on Saturday, UNC delivered with a 4-0 shutout win. In the ninth inning Sunday, Nicholson and French set Schaffner and Hull up for big plays.
North Carolina could’ve easily folded in Games 2 and 3, but a combination of timely offense and strong pitching kept its season alive.
As a result of the Diamond Heels’ refusal to give up, they’re now going to the College World Series for a second time in three seasons.
Whether in the Boshamer Stadium seats, beyond the right field fence or on the top row of Karen Shelton Stadium, Tar Heel Nation showed out for three consecutive games.
UNC fans cheered for every big hit, you could hear “Tar…HEELS” chants each day, Carolina Blue was everywhere and, for one weekend, Chapel Hill proved to be the biggest stage in college baseball.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Five takeaways from beating USC, advancing to CWS
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