CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina punched its ticket back to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, for the second time in three seasons with a 4-3 victory over Southern California on Sunday, June 7. The Tar Heels will head to Omaha for the 13th time in program history and ninth time in the past 20 years.
It marks the 20th consecutive tournament in which a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference has advanced to the Men’s College World Series. The ACC has placed a total of 36 teams in the past 19 Men’s College World Series, an average of just under two per season. Multiple ACC teams have reached Omaha 12 times during the span.
North Carolina was paced on Sunday by outstanding pitching, highlighted by a stellar start from ACC Freshman of the Year Caden Glauber. Making just the third start of his collegiate career, Glauber worked 7.1 innings, allowing just three runs and striking out a career-high 11. North Carolina turned to Jackson Rose and Walker McDuffie, who combined to work 1.2 scoreless innings and did not allow a hit.
The Tar Heels got on the board in the third inning when center fielder Owen Hull doubled down the left-field line, scoring Jake Schaffner from first base.
Cooper Nicholson got the Tar Heels going in the ninth inning when he drew a one-out walk. Carter French, who entered the game as a defensive replacement, singled through the right side and advanced Nicholson to third. With one away, Schaffner lifted a sacrifice fly to right-center field, plating Nicholson for the game-tying run.
With the score knotted at three, Gavin Gallaher drew a walk to put two runners on for UNC. With two on and two away, Hull sent Boshamer Stadium into pandemonium with a walk-off double to left-center field, capping off the Tar Heels’ come-from-behind victory and sending North Carolina to Omaha for the 13th time. Hull finished the game with four hits, all of which were doubles, and two RBIs.
North Carolina, the winners of the Chapel Hill Regional, dropped the series opener on Friday, June 5, 9-5. On Saturday, June 6, the Tar Heels bounced back with a 4-0 victory, powered by a complete-game shutout from Jason DeCaro, forcing Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 3.
North Carolina will meet Ole Miss in the opening round of the Men’s College World Series. The full Men’s College World Series schedule will be announced at a later date.