UNC Baseball Advances to Winners Bracket Against Oklahoma

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The University of North Carolina baseball team earned a place in the winners bracket of the Chapel Hill Regional with a 4-0 victory over Holy Cross on May 30. Ace pitcher Jake Knapp led the way for the Tar Heels (43-12), throwing a remarkable 8 ⅓ scoreless innings.

Knapp, who remains undefeated this season with a 13-0 record, allowed four hits and struck out seven batters. The game was held at Boshamer Stadium, setting the stage for a highly anticipated matchup between the Tar Heels and the second-seeded Oklahoma sooners (35-20) on May 31 at 6 p.m. ET.

In the fourth inning, UNC broke through with three runs, starting with a single by Hunter Stokely, which drove in Gavin Gallaher. Tyson Bass followed with a two-out RBI double, and Sam Angelo added another single to increase the lead. Gallaher later capped the scoring for the Tar Heels with a run-scoring single in the fifth inning.

Oklahoma, which had a successful opener against Nebraska, won their game 7-4, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense showdown with North Carolina. The Sooners’ ace Kyson Witherspoon was saved for this match after his brother Malachi excelled in their opener.

Fans can watch the game on ESPNU, with Wes Durham and Danan Hughes providing the commentary. The game will also be available on the ESPN app and other streaming platforms. As the tournament progresses, a victory against Oklahoma would pave the way for UNC to play in the regional final.

As a result of their strong performance, the Tar Heels continue their pursuit of a College World Series appearance, building on their recent success and strong showing in the ACC.