By R.L. Bynum
OMAHA, Neb. — North Carolina showed plenty of heart after falling behind by six runs and shook off its offensive funk, but it wasn’t enough to extend the Tar Heels’ stay in Omaha.
In likely his career-finale, center fielder Vance Honeycutt had three hits — including a two-run homer that gave UNC life — in a 9–5 loss to Florida State at Charles Schwab Field Omaha to end the Heels’ Men’s College World Series run.
“We battled,” UNC coach Scott Forbes said. “We battled all year. Didn’t surprise me we made a run back there. Just didn’t get it done.”
More ninth-inning magic seemed possible before Florida State added a pair of insurance home runs in the top of the ninth.
“The first one, I thought he got up in that jet stream,” Forbes said. “And then the next one, the guy hit a mistake. That’s what good hitters do. I thought that would have been out anywhere. Obviously, we felt like we were in striking distance.”
Honeycutt did his part to give the Tar Heels a chance, going 3 for 5 and coming a triple away from the cycle. He extended his school records with his 28th homer of the season and 65th of his career, the latter the fourth-most in ACC history. He’s the only player with six home runs in this NCAA tournament.
“That’s how this team has been all year,” Honeycutt said of the team’s mentality when it faced a big early deficit. “They’re just no-quit. That’s a credit to how we’re trained, how we’re coached and the character of the guys in the locker room.”
After scoring three runs or fewer in its previous three games, Carolina (48–16) scored four in the fifth inning, keyed by Honeycutt’s blast, but couldn’t add to that.
Needing a big outing from left-hander Dalton Pence, one of the best closers in the country, he instead had one of the worst performances of his career and had his 14⅓-inning scoreless streak snapped.
In his sixth NCAA tournament appearance, tied for the most in the event this season, Pence didn’t walk anybody, but the other five UNC pitchers combined to walk nine.
“I felt like he couldn’t get that cutter where he wanted to throw it,” Forbes said. “But, man, golly, talk about a kid we wouldn’t be here without him, and he’s just human.”
UNC, which lost back-to-back games for only the fourth time this season, will be a much different team next year, losing likely its entire outfield, three infielders and its designated hitter.
“It was an unbelievable season,” said left fielder Casey Cook, who figures to turn pro. “You guys saw it. We had one of the best teams in the country. And our end goal was to win this whole thing, but I mean we came down here, and I think the postseason sums it up. We didn’t hit like we necessarily wanted to. We knew we were capable of doing more, but we found a way. We found a way, we found a way.”
After UNC starter Aidan Haugh (loser, 4–3) gave up a walk and single with one out in the second inning, second baseman Drew Faurot lined an RBI single up the middle to give the Noles a 1–0 lead.
Haugh gave way to Matthew Matthijs in the third inning after loading the bases with two walks and a hit batsman. After Matthijs walked his only batter to bring in a run, Pence gave up a sacrifice fly before inducing an inning-ending pop-up.
A pair of two-out doubles — Honeycutt’s to left and Cook’s to right — plated UNC’s first run in the third inning.
FSU (49–16) extended the lead to 7–1 in the fifth inning as Pence gave up RBI singles to Daniel Cantu, Alex Lodise, Jaxson West and Max Williams. In 2⅓ innings, Pence gave up eight hits and four runs, both season-highs, with only one strikeout.
In his first start since the ACC tournament, Florida State’s Andrew Armstrong kept UNC’s offense in check, giving up five hits and one run in 4⅓ innings.
Honeycutt gave Carolina hope in the fifth inning with a two-out, 400-foot shot to left field for a three-run homer. In his second consecutive start at designated hitter, Jackson Van De Brake cut the deficit to two with an RBI single up the middle.
Matt Poston, who relieved Pence, pitched one inning and left the bases loaded after three sixth-inning walks. Cameron Padgett came on to strike out Faurot to end the threat.
Solo home runs from West and Williams within a three-pitch span to start the ninth inning off Padgett all but put the game away for the Seminoles.
Connor Hults (Winner, 3–1) finished the game for Florida State with 4⅓ shutout innings, giving up only two hits and walking one.
NOTES — It was Honeycutt’s first three-hit game since May 1 against William & Mary. … Van De Brake moved up two spots in the order to fifth, where he started the first six games of the season. Third baseman Gavin Gallaher slid down to the seven-hole, where he had started 20 previous games. … Florida State has home runs in 18 consecutive games. … It was the second consecutive Men’s College World Series appearance for UNC in which it won the opener and lost the next two games, which also happened in 2018. … Carolina’s 48 wins are tied with the 2009 team for the eighth-most in program history. … UNC is 19–25 all-time in the MCWS and 1–3 in the NCAA tournament against Florida State. … Anthony Donofrio finished the season with an 11-game hit streak. … UNC finished 11–12 against teams in the top 25 of the RPI.
No. 8 FSU 9, No. 4 UNC 5
Men’s College World Series
At Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Neb.
Bracket 1
No. 1 Tennessee (3–0), No. 8 Florida State (2–2), No. 4 North Carolina (1–2), No. 12 Virginia (0–2)
Bracket 2
No. 3 Texas A&M (3–0), Florida (2–2), No. 2 Kentucky (1–2), No. 10 N.C. State (0–2)
Pool play
(All listed times are EDT)
Friday’s results
Game 1: No. 4 North Carolina 3, No. 12 Virginia 2
Game 2: No. 1 Tennessee 12, No. 8 Florida State 11
Saturday’s results
Game 3: No. 2 Kentucky 5, No. 10 N.C. State 4, 10 innings
Game 4: No. 3 Texas A&M 3, Florida 2
Sunday’s results
Game 5: No. 8 Florida State 7, No. 12 Virginia 3; Virginia eliminated
Game 6: No. 1 Tennessee 6, No. 4 North Carolina 1
Monday’s results
Game 7: Florida 5, No. 10 N.C. State 4; N.C. State eliminated
Game 8: No. 3 Texas A&M 5, No. 2 Kentucky 1
Tuesday’s result
Game 9: No. 8 Florida State 9, No. 4 North Carolina 5; North Carolina eliminated
Wednesday’s results
Game 10: Florida 15, No. 2 Kentucky 4; Kentucky eliminated
Game 11: No. 1 Tennessee 7, No. 8 Florida State 2; Florida State eliminated
Game 12: No. 3 Texas A&M 6, Florida 0; Florida eliminated
MCWS Finals
(Best-of-3 series)
No. 1 Tennessee (60–13) vs. No. 3 Texas A&M (53–15)
Game 1: Texas A&M 9, Tennessee 5
Game 2 Tennessee, 4, Texas A&M 1
Game 3: Tennessee 6, Texas A&M 5; Tennessee wins national champinship
UNC career home run leaders
| Player | Seasons | Games | Homers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vance Honeycutt | 2022–24 | 176 | 65 |
| Devy Bell | 1984–87 | 205 | 57 |
| Chris Cox | 1990–93 | 192 | 49 |
| Mac Horvath | 2021–23 | 160 | 47 |
| Alberto Osuna | 2022–24 | 176 | 45 |
| Chad Flack | 2005–08 | 267 | 42 |
| Sean Farrell | 2000–03 | 240 | 40 |
| Jarrett Shearin | 1996–99 | 241 | 40 |
| Cookie Massey | 1993–94 | 108 | 40 |
UNC results
| Date | Day/ month | Score | Opponent/event (final ranks) | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | ||||
| 16 | Friday | W, 10–3 | vs. Wagner | 1–0 |
| 17 | Saturday | W, 16–5 | vs. Wagner | 2–0 |
| 18 | Sunday | W, 20–6 | vs. Wagner | 3–0 |
| 20 | Tuesday | W, 8–7 | vs. Elon | 4–0 |
| 23 | Friday | W, 2–1 | vs. No. 20 East Carolina | 5–0 |
| 24 | Saturday | L, 7–4 | vs. No. 20 East Carolina in Fayetteville | 5–1 |
| 25 | Sunday | L, 10–9 | at No. 20 East Carolina | 5–2 |
| 27 | Tuesday | W, 8–2 | vs. VCU | 6–2 |
| 28 | Wednesday | W, 12–3 | vs. Longwood | 7–2 |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Friday | W, 12–2 | vs. Princeton | 8–2 |
| 2 | Saturday | W, 11–2 | vs. Princeton | 9–2 |
| 3 | Sunday | W, 13–6 | vs. Princeton | 10–2 |
| 5 | Tuesday | W, 7–3 | at Campbell | 11–2 |
| 8 | Friday | W, 2–1 | vs. Pittsburgh | 12–2, 1–0 ACC |
| 9 | Saturday | W, 7–3 | vs. Pittsburgh | 13–2, 2–0 ACC |
| 10 | Sunday | W, 6–5, 10 innings | vs. Pittsburgh | 14–2, 3–0 ACC |
| 12 | Tuesday | W, 13–7 | vs. Rutgers | 15–2 |
| 13 | Wednesday | W, 9–8 | vs. Rutgers | 16–2 |
| 15 | Friday | L, 14–1 | at Miami | 16–3, 3–1 ACC |
| 16 | Saturday | L, 2–1 | at Miami | 16–4, 3–2 ACC |
| 17 | Sunday | W, 18–6, 7 innings (10-run rule) | at Miami | 17–4, 4–2 ACC |
| 19 | Tuesday | W, 11–0, 7 innings (10-run rule) | vs. UNCW | 18–4 |
| 22 | Friday | W, 5–4 | vs. Georgia Tech | 19–4, 5–2 ACC |
| 23 | Saturday | W, 11–5 | vs. Georgia Tech | 20–4, 6–2 ACC |
| 24 | Sunday | W, 9–2 | vs. Georgia Tech | 21–4, 7–2 ACC |
| 26 | Tuesday | W, 10–8 | vs. N.C. A&T | 22–4 |
| 29 | Friday | W, 6–5 | at Wake Forest | 23–4, 8–2 ACC |
| 30 | Saturday | W, 10–6 | at Wake Forest | 24–4, 9–2 ACC |
| 31 | Sunday | W, 14–10 | at Wake Forest | 25–4, 10–2 ACC |
| April | ||||
| 4 | Thursday | L, 14–11 | at No. 7 Virginia | 25–5, 10–3 ACC |
| 5 | Friday | L, 7–2 | at No. 7 Virginia | 25–6, 10–4 ACC |
| 6 | Saturday | W, 12–7 | at No. 7 Virginia | 26–6, 11–4 ACC |
| 9 | Tuesday | L, 2–1 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte | 26–7 |
| 12 | Friday | W, 13–0, 6½ innings (10-run rule) | vs. Notre Dame | 27–7, 12–4 ACC |
| 13 | Saturday | W, 7–2 | vs. Notre Dame | 28–7, 13–4 ACC |
| 14 | Sunday | W, 10–3 | vs. Notre Dame | 29–7, 14–4 ACC |
| 16 | Tuesday | L, 5–4 | vs. Coastal Carolina | 29–8 |
| 18 | Thursday | L, 9–8 | at No. 6 N.C. State | 29–9, 14–5 ACC |
| 19 | Friday | L, 5–4 | at No. 6 N.C. State | 29–10, 14–6 ACC |
| 20 | Saturday | W, 14–3 | at No. 6 N.C. State | 30–10, 15–6 ACC |
| 23 | Tuesday | W, 5–2 | vs. Gardner-Webb | 31–10 |
| 26 | Friday | W, 8–1 | vs. Virginia Tech | 32–10, 16–6 ACC |
| 27 | Saturday | W, 6–3 | vs. Virginia Tech | 33–10, 17–6 ACC |
| 28 | Sunday | L, 4–3 | vs. Virginia Tech | 33–11, 17–7 ACC |
| 30 | Tuesday | W, 13–1, 6½ innings (10-run rule) | vs. Charlotte | 34–11 |
| May | ||||
| 1 | Wednesday | W, 19–2, 6½ innings (10-run rule) | vs. William & Mary | 35–11 |
| 7 | Tuesday | W, 16–10 | vs. Campbell | 36–11 |
| 10 | Friday | W, 13–4 8 innings (10-run rule) | vs. Louisville | 37–11, 18–7 ACC |
| 11 | Saturday | W, 6–4 | vs. Louisville | 38–11, 19–7 ACC |
| 12 | Sunday | W, 16–7 | vs. Louisville | 39–11, 20–7 ACC |
| 16 | Thursday | L, 5–3 | at No. 24 Duke | 39–12, 20–8 ACC |
| 17 | Friday | W, 6–4 | at No. 24 Duke | 40–12, 21–8 ACC |
| 18 | Saturday | W, 14–6 | at No. 24 Duke | 41–12, 22–8 ACC |
| ACC tournament | in Charlotte | |||
| 23 | Thursday | W, 12–2 | Pittsburgh | 42–12 |
| 24 | Friday | L, 9–5, 12 innings | Wake Forest | 42–13 |
| NCAA tournament | ||||
| Chapel Hill Regional | ||||
| 31 | Friday | W, 11–8 | Long Island | 43–13 |
| June | ||||
| 1 | Saturday | W, 6–2 | LSU | 44–13 |
| 2 | Sunday | L, 8–4 | LSU | 44–14 |
| 3 | Monday | W, 4–3, 10 innings | LSU | 45–14 |
| Chapel Hill Super Regional | ||||
| 7 | Friday | W, 8–6 | No. 13 West Virginia | 46–14 |
| 8 | Saturday | W, 2–1 | No. 13 West Virginia | 47–14 |
| College World Series Omaha, Neb. | ||||
| 14 | Friday | W, 3–2 | vs. No. 7 Virginia | 48–14 |
| 16 | Sunday | L, 6–1 | No. 1 Tennessee | 48–15 |
| 18 | Tuesday | L, 9–5 | No. 4 Florida State | 48–16 |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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