North Carolina waited until the late innings again, uncorking a three-run seventh to beat West Virginia 5-2 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha and punch a ticket to the College World Series semifinals. The go-ahead burst ended with a two-run triple from Gavin Gallaher that snapped a 2-2 tie. The Tar Heels are back on the field at 2 p.m. Wednesday to face the winner of Tuesday's elimination game, either Troy or a rematch with West Virginia, with a spot in the CWS finals hanging in the balance.
Gallaher Turns WVU Miscue Into Game-Changer
With the score still knotted at two, the pivotal seventh started when Colin Hynek reached on a fielding error by Tyrus Hall. Right fielder Carter French then reached on a fielder’s choice, extending the at-bat just long enough for Gallaher to lace a two-run triple that put Carolina in front for good. The Mountaineers’ mistakes in the inning handed North Carolina extra outs and a late surge of momentum. The full sequence and the 5-2 final are broken down by CBS Sports.
Tar Heels Strike Early, Thrive Late
UNC got on the board quickly when first baseman Erik Paulsen forced in a run with an RBI walk, and Cooper Nicholson added another with a sacrifice groundout. Despite that early push, the game stayed even until the seventh. The Tar Heels have been living on late offense all postseason, as 23 of their 48 NCAA Tournament runs have come in the final four innings. Those numbers are laid out by The News & Observer.
Guzman Keeps Mountaineers in the Fight
West Virginia’s Armani Guzman refused to let Carolina get comfortable, going 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI while flashing the range and speed that have made him a postseason headache for opponents. As The News & Observer noted, Guzman "did just about everything, except for pitching." For more on West Virginia’s run and Guzman’s production, check out WVU Athletics.
UNC Holds Winners’ Bracket Edge in Omaha
With control of the winners’ bracket, the Tar Heels sit one win away from the championship series. A victory on Wednesday, or in an if-necessary Thursday game, would send them into the best-of-three final that begins Saturday. Updated schedule and bracket information outline UNC’s path and TV windows, including the 2 p.m. Wednesday slot for their next matchup. CBS Sports has the full schedule and bracket.
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