North Carolina Walks Off Virginia in College World Series Opener

In a gripping pitcher’s duel, North Carolina emerged victorious over Virginia in a thrilling College World Series opener at Omaha. Vance Honeycutt played the hero for North Carolina with a walk-off RBI single, securing a 3-2 win over Virginia.

North Carolina will advance to the semifinals of Bracket 1 in the College World Series, facing the winner of the Tennessee/Florida State matchup. Freshman pitcher Jason DeCaro started the game for North Carolina, showcasing resilience after a challenging first inning.

The Tar Heels initiated the scoring with a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning, courtesy of hits from Casey Cook, Parks Harber, and an RBI groundout by Anthony Donofrio. However, Virginia responded to tie the game at one in the third inning.

Evan Blanco, the ace for Virginia, kept the game tight as he dueled against North Carolina’s hitters. The Cavaliers briefly took a 2-1 lead before Casey Cook’s pivotal hit tied the game back up at 2-2 in the seventh inning.

Vance Honeycutt, a standout outfielder and future MLB draft prospect, had a challenging day at the plate but delivered the game-winning hit in the ninth inning. Jason DeCaro’s strong start on the mound set the tone for North Carolina, with the bullpen stepping up to secure the victory.

North Carolina’s walk-off win sets the stage for an exciting journey through the College World Series, where they aim to continue their winning momentum. The upcoming matchups against formidable opponents from the SEC and ACC promise more thrilling baseball action in Omaha.