Covering Carolina athletics beyond men’s basketball and football, with dedicated reporting on women’s basketball and baseball, in addition to covering other sports that rarely draw media attention
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.
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. — 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).
OMAHA, Neb. — Gavin Gallaher picked an excellent time to break through with his first College World Series hit. The junior second baseman was 0-for-15 when he took a first-pitch strike from Ole Miss left-handed reliever Walker Hooks with two outs in the seventh inning. After a discussion with Coach Scott Forbes between pitches, he laced a single up the middle for the go-ahead run with two outs in the seventh inning.
North Carolina’s path back to Omaha says as much about roster-building as it does about player development. In an era when college baseball rosters can turn over quickly and programs are forced to rebuild on the fly, UNC has found a way to do both, and do it without losing its footing.
No. 4 North Carolina’s 4–3 victory Sunday in the deciding game of the Chapel Super Regional was the most-watched Super Regional game on record, according to ESPN.
CHAPEL HILL — Double-elimination tournaments create challenges for coaches as they figure out how to best manage pitching staffs. The competition is much stiffer at the College World Series than during the double-elimination regional round, but the days off between games change the calculus when it comes to managing pitchers and keeping the best arms fresh.
CHAPEL HILL — When No. 4 North Carolina’s ninth-inning rally was done Sunday, there was plenty of celebrating. But there was no dogpile. Dogpiles are common in college baseball after significant wins, but the Tar Heels may have shown their mindset in not celebrating that way after Sunday’s 4-3 victory over USC. While reaching the College World Series is a significant accomplishment, UNC is the only program in the country that’s done so in two of the last three years.
Carolina often pushes back on the notion that the Tar Heels are not a power-hitting team, but that might be an advantage at spacious Charles Schwab Field Omaha.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina has been to Omaha often enough to know how hard it is to get there and how much harder it is to finish the job. After coming up one win short a year earlier, the Tar Heels are back for the second time in three seasons.
CHAPEL HILL — More Bosh Magic has No. 4 North Carolina back in the College World Series for the second time in three seasons. And it came in with thrilling, heart-thumping drama. The Tar Heels’ 13th trip to Omaha looked in doubt when they trailed by a run with one out in the ninth inning. But Owen Hull smashed his fourth double to drive in the game-ending run to lift UNC to a 4–3 victory Sunday over USC in the deciding Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.
CHAPEL HILL — No. 4 North Carolina will open its second College World Series in three seasons and 13th overall against No. 18 Ole Miss. The No. 5-seed Tar Heels (50–12–1) and the Rebels (41–21) have never met in baseball, but will face off in their opener, likely on Friday but possibly on Saturday. The schedule isn’t expected to be finalized until ESPN decides on its preferred order of play by Monday night.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina will hand the baseball to its young pitching star with a trip to the College World Series on the line. The Tar Heels have not lost a game this season when ACC Freshman of the Year Caden Glauber (10–0, 2.05 ERA) pitches, and the sensational right-hander will start Sunday’s 3:06 p.m. winner-take-all Game 3 (ESPN) against USC in Boshamer Stadium.
