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OMAHA, Neb. — The battle for the national championship is set. On Wednesday night, Oklahoma followed No. 4 North Carolina in rolling into the College World Series Finals, easily eliminating No. 3 Georgia 11–4 after the Tar Heels advanced Wednesday afternoon with a 12–7 victory over West Virginia.
OMAHA, Neb. — It was an emotional reflection for Scott Forbes when he remembered being an assistant coach the last time North Carolina made the College World Series Finals. Forbes had been there before, in 2006 and 2007, when legendary UNC coach Mike Fox hired him away from Winthrop to serve as pitching coach. He could not have imagined then that, 20 years later, he would be the Tar Heels’ head coach, guiding them back to the national championship series.
OMAHA, Neb. — Here is a complete transcript and video from No. 4-ranked North Carolina’s College World Series postgame press conference on Wednesday with Coach Scott Forbes, Gavin Gallaher, Owen Hull and Jackson Rose after rolling past West Virginia.
OMAHA, Neb. — North Carolina is two wins away from its first national championship after pouring on the offense early, thanks to white-hot Owen Hull returning to the “O-zone.” The No. 4 Tar Heels pounded West Virginia pitching and took advantage of its defensive lapses, rolling to a 12–7 victory Wednesday at Charles Schwab Field Omaha to clinch its first CWS Finals berth in 19 years.
OMAHA, Neb. — Just as the Chapel Hill Regional essentially turned into a best-of-three series between No. 4 North Carolina and East Carolina, Bracket 1 at the College World Series is playing out in a similar way. The Tar Heels (52–12–1) just hope for similar results. No. 9 West Virginia (47–16), which lost 5–2 to UNC on Sunday night, earned a rematch with the Tar Heels by rolling to a 12–0 victory over Troy in an elimination game at Charles Schwab Field Omaha on Tuesday.
OMAHA, Neb. — For most North Carolina players at the College World Series, it’s a rare chance to focus totally on baseball and not worry about classes. One of the exceptions is senior biology major Carter French, affectionately known as Dr. French.
OMAHA, Neb. — Junior left-hander Folger Boaz, who was North Carolina’s No. 3 starter most of the season, will start for the No. 4 Tar Heels on Wednesday at the College World Series. It’s a decision Coach Scott Forbes said fits both the moment and the larger path UNC believes can carry it through the rest of the week.
OMAHA, Neb. — With the only team seeded higher than North Carolina one win away from elimination, the path at the College World Series to a national championship for the No. 4-ranked Tar Heels could be getting smoother. The No. 5-seed Tar Heels (52–12–1) are now the favorite to win the national championship after Georgia (52–13), the No. 3 seed and No. 3-ranked, lost 4–3 Monday night in a thriller against SEC rival Oklahoma (40–22).
OMAHA, Neb. — Coming into an intense College World Series game with the potential tying run at the plate would rattle the nerves of some pitchers. The moment could have been too big for a pitcher so young that his high school class in Fort Mill, S.C., graduated late last month while he was pitching in the Chapel Hill Regional.
North Carolina will get a high-profile October test under first-year coach Michael Malone when the Tar Heels face Indiana in a preseason exhibition game Sunday, Oct. 18, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The start time and television information will be announced later, and tickets are scheduled to go on sale on Wednesday at this link. The Carolina football team plays at Duke the day before on Oct. 17.
OMAHA, Neb. — No. 4 North Carolina is three wins away from winning the program’s first national championship after moving to 2–0 for the first time since 2006 and the second time in its history. As a reward for being the only undefeated team in Bracket 1, the Tar Heels (52–12–1) get two days off before playing at 2:07 p.m. Wednesday. UNC will face the winner of Tuesday’s 2:07 p.m. elimination game between Troy (39–31) and No. 9 West Virginia (46–15).
OMAHA, Neb. — Here is a complete transcript and video from No. 4-ranked North Carolina’s College World Series postgame press conference on Sunday night with Coach Scott Forbes, second baseman Gavin Gallaher and pitcher Walker McDuffie.
OMAHA, Neb. — Gavin Gallaher’s bat is working like a late-inning magic wand for North Carolina at the College World Series. For the second consecutive game, he came up clutch with the game-winning hit as the No. 4 Tar Heels moved to 2–0 in Omaha for the first time in 20 years.
OMAHA, Neb. — Dealing with the higher level of competition is just one adjustment that all teams need to make when coming to the College World Series. Charles Schwab Field Omaha plays differently than nearly every team’s home field, and No. 4 North Carolina is no exception. Fielders need to account for that, and third-base coaches have to factor the differences. It’s not just that the field is bigger than Boshamer Stadium or that there are more fans.
OMAHA, Neb. — In spectacular fashion in the pivotal late innings on Friday night, No. 4 North Carolina broke out of its plate struggles with runners in scoring position. The Tar Heels’ rally for a 6–2 victory over No. 23 Ole Miss has them in the winners bracket of their pod and in good position as they await a 7:09 p.m. battle with No. 9 West Virginia on Sunday (ESPN).
