Tag: Chapel Hill Super Regional

UNC blasts a famous West Virginia tune after clinching trip to College World Series

Country roads, take me home…

There are several ways to celebrating clinching a College World Series trip.

The first way, immediately after recording the game’s final out, is to dogpile on the mound. Fans of the team who clinched erupt in joyous celebration, particularly if the clinch is at home.

Another way is to wave to fans of your team, thanking them for their attendance and support throughout a tough series.

What did the North Carolina Tar Heels do this year?

First off, they dogpiled the mound after the beautiful defensive teamwork from Parks Harber and Dalton Pence, ending Game 2 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional with a 2-1 win over West Virginia. From the postgame celebrations, I can tell UNC players and coaches didn’t want to leave the Boshamer Stadium infield.

Eventually, North Carolina made its way into the tunnels for postgame interviews.

What we didn’t realize until after those interviews, however, is part of the Diamond Heels‘ celebration included a fun jab at the recently-defeated Mountainers.

There’s a couple of fans in the replies who disagree with UNC’s postgame song choice, but I have no problem with it, especially after how Mountaineers ace Derek Clark cockily walked off the mound in Game 1.

I have no doubt that after seeing the above clip, West Virginia will be cheering a little harder for UVA to beat North Carolina on Friday.

The Diamond Heels, however, can choose to celebrate how they want. After all, they’ll be playing in the College World Series and the Mountaineers will be watching from home.

Country roads, take me home…

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This year’s trip to College World Series marks UNC baseball’s eighth since 2006

UNC is one of the best college baseball programs to never win a College World Series. Could 2024 finally be the year?

Chapel Hill Super Regional star Vance Honeycutt set the tone for North Carolina on Saturday night, homering on the first pitch of Game 2 to give UNC a 1-0 lead over West Virginia.

The Diamond Heel bats settled down after that, only scoring again on Parks Harber’s third inning single. While the North Carolina bats cooled considerably, its pitching rose to the challenge against a hot-hitting Mountaineers lineup.

Freshman ace Jason DeCaro and star closer Dalton Pence delivered one of UNC’s best pitching performances of the season, allowing just one run on four hits through nine innings, playing a major role in the Diamond Heels’ 2-1 victory that sent them back to the College World Series.

North Carolina, which previously beat reigning CWS champion LSU to win the Chapel Hill Regional, heads to Omaha for the first time since 2018.

UNC’s 2024 trip to Omaha will also be its eighth since 2006, which ties it for most in the country.

While we won’t know the official College World Series bracket until Monday night at the latest, we do know who the Diamond Heels will be playing – old rival UVA, at a time TBD on Friday, June 14.

North Carolina lost two of three regular season matchups to the Cavaliers, taking the Saturday, April 6 weekend series finale. UVA is just as hot as UNC, sweeping its way through both the Charlottesville Regional and Super Regionals.

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Boshamer Stadium sets attendance record in Diamond Heels CWS berth-clinching victory

Chapel Hill, North Carolina was the place to be this weekend if you’re a college baseball fan.

If you wanted to watch the Chapel Hill Super Regional in person last weekend, good luck.

Not too long after UNC announced tickets went on sale to the public, UNC announced those same tickets were sold out.

If you consistently attend North Carolina baseball games, though, you’ll know there’s viewing loopholes. One spot is just behind the right field fence, where you get a great view of Boshamer Stadium through the metal holes, while the other is atop Karen Shelton Stadium beyond the right field viewing area.

Fans took full advantage of those free spots, pulling up plenty of lawn chairs and lining the top row of UNC’s field hockey stadium.

Those who were lucky enough to get in the gates watched quite the series against West Virginia. Vance Honeycutt walked off Game 1 with a moonshot over the netting behind the left field fence, while Dalton Pence hustled over to first base and recorded the Diamond Heels’ final out of Game 2, sending them to their first College World Series since 2018.

Not only was Saturday night’s Game 2 a historic win, but it set a Boshamer Stadium attendance record with 4,491 fans.

The Bosh only holds 4,100 fans, but has plenty of standing room only space on the concourse behind home plate. There is general admission seating along the first base side during the regular season, but we weren’t able to look at available tickets in time to see if the postseason carried that option.

You can bet that even more North Carolina fans will make the trip to Omaha, Neb. for the College World Series, which start on Friday, June 14.

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Matt Poston’s perfection plays a major role in UNC’s Game 1 Chapel Hill Super Regional win

Matt Poston played arguably the largest role in helping UNC win Game 1 of its own Super Regional Friday night.

UNC relief pitcher Matt Poston deserves his flowers for North Carolina’s come-from-behind, 8-6 victory over West Virginia Friday night in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

After Ben Peterson hit both Mountaineer batters to open the seventh inning, Poston came on in relief. West Virginia carried a 6-4 lead and was threatening to break the game open. Kyle West was already enjoying a career night for the Mountaineers, which included two of his team’s three home runs, so there wasn’t a lot of optimism in Chapel Hill.

What Poston did next was simply amazing.

Exactly a week after struggling in relief against Long Island University during the Chapel Hill Regional, Poston pitched three perfect innings and struck out four Mountaineers, nabbing his fifth win of the year.

Not only did Poston save a rough inning from Peterson, but a rough start from Diamond Heels pitchers in general.

Game 1 starter Shea Sprague appeared to be cruising through the West Virginia lineup, striking out six batters, but he gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings.

UNC wins leader Matthew Matthijs relieved Sprague and lasted an inning, but he gave up a home run to West.

In watching Poston’s postgame interview, you can tell he was relieved to have a bounce-back outing Friday.

Poston’s fifth victory tied him with freshman ace Jason DeCaro for second-most amongst North Carolina hurlers.

I imagine Poston does not pitch much tonight in Game 2, but if head coach Scott Forbes needs Poston, I’m sure he’ll be ready to go.

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Luke Stevenson delivers more freshman heroics for UNC baseball in Friday night victory

Luke Stevenson is a stud behind the plate for UNC. He’s also quite the hitter – check out what he did in the Super Regionals Friday night.

Gavin Gallaher unofficially earned the nickname “Galla-HIM” after the UNC baseball team walked off Long Island University, 11-8, on Friday, May 31 to end Day 1 of the Chapel Hill Regional.

Gallaher, North Carolina’s freshman starting third baseman, blasted a walk-off grand slam in that 11-8 victory. The Diamond Heels trailed 8-5 coming into the ninth, but never quit at the plate.

Enter Luke Stevenson, another star freshman for UNC. Stevenson, a former Top-10 high school prospect who now starts behind the dish for North Carolina, could’ve easily chosen to enter his name in the 2023 MLB Draft.

As a result of Stevenson opting for college ball in Chapel Hill, the Diamond Heels are one victory away from their first College World Series trip in six years, beating West Virginia 8-6 on Friday night.

On the first pitch during the home half of the ninth inning, during Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional between UNC and West Virginia, Stevenson tied the game at six with a clutch home run – just over the center field fence.

Friday’s blast also snapped a cold streak for Stevenson, who entered the game 2-for-13 in the NCAA Tournament.

Four batters after Stevenson tied the game, Vance Honeycutt won it with a moonshot, walk-off home run over the left field netting.

How will Stevenson follow up his clutch antics in a potential series-clincher Saturday night?

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Vance Honeycutt’s walk-off home run puts UNC one win away from College World Series

Vance Honeycutt is UNC’s best hitter. He delivered on Friday night to help North Carolina win Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

Vance Honeycutt said it best in his postgame interview – there was some major Bosh Magic during the Chapel Hill Super Regional opener on Friday night against West Virginia.

Just like Monday night against LSU, the Diamond Heels trailed by a run entering the ninth inning. Mountaineers ace Derek Clark, despite allowing a 4-spot to UNC in the third inning, was mowing down the North Carolina lineup.

Up stepped star Diamond Heels catcher Luke Stevenson, hoping to finally solve Clark.

Stevenson did exactly that, launching Clark’s first pitch in the bottom of the ninth over the center field fence – barely over the outstretched glove of Skylar King.

Three batters later, Honeycutt ended the night with a bomb of his own.

Facing a 3-1 count from Aidan Major, Honeycutt launched the baseball well over the left field wall for an 8-6, walk-off victory that put North Carolina one victory away from the College World Series.

 

Honeycutt’s blast was one of three on the night for UNC. Stevenson blasted the game-tying shot to start the ninth, but before that, Colby Wilkerson mashed his third home run of the season in the seventh inning.

Parks Harber gave the Diamond Heels a 3-1 lead in the third, grounding a 3-run single up the middle. Gallagher extended the UNC lead to 4-1 with a single shortly after.

Kyle West, who struggled big-time entering the Super Regional, tortured the North Carolina pitching with two home runs and a single.

It was the Diamond Heel pitching, specifically Matt Poston, that won out in the end. Poston, who struggled during the Regional Round, hurled three perfect innings with four strikeouts to end the game.

With a combination of clutch hitting and shutdown pitching, UNC is one win away from its first College World Series appearance since 2018.

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UNC-West Virginia Chapel Hill Super Regional officially sold out

Sink yourself into your couches this weekend if you want to watch the Chapel Hill Super Regional, as no more tickets are available.

We’re just a day out from the start of Super Regionals in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, with just 16 teams now vying for eight spots in the College World Series.

The NCAA Regional Round, however, came down to the Oklahoma-UConn and UNC-LSU matchups on Monday night. UConn dominated the Sooners in the Norman (Okla.) Regional Final, 7-1, while UNC-LSU provided drama with the Diamond Heels’ come-from-behind, 4-3 victory that featured plenty of clutch hitting and pitching.

North Carolina will be taking on West Virginia in the Chapel Hill Super Regional, which kicks off Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. UNC will be hosting its second Super Regional in three seasons, while the Mountaineers are making their first Super Regional appearance.

The Diamond Heels and West Virginia will be featured on national television, with both (possibly three) games on ESPN2.

If you were interested in attending in-person, you’re out of luck.

On Thursday afternoon, North Carolina announced that its Super Regional was officially sold out.

Okay, so it’s officially sold out through the official UNC athletics website, but there are technically tickets still available for purchase. You’ll have to pay a premium price, though, as SeatGeek tickets are selling for a couple hundred dollars.

Don’t tell anyone we told you this, but there are a couple free options to watch the Chapel Hill Super Regional in person.

You can arrive at each game super-early and bring a lawn chair, as fans can watch through the right field fence. There’s also the stands at Karen Shelton Stadium just behind right field.

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UNC announces Game 1 starting pitcher for Chapel Hill Super Regional

North Carolina will rely on a transfer pitcher to win Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

While the Diamond Heels bats clutched up in Monday’s 4-3 Chapel Hill Regional Final win over defending College World Series champion LSU, one could argue UNC’s pitching kept them in position to win throughout.

After allowing three runs in the first three innings, North Carolina went to its talented bullpen. 12-game winner Matthew Matthijs relieved starter Jason DeCaro with 4 1/3 innings of 1-run, 2- hit ball, then star UNC closer Dalton Pence tossed his best outing of the season, striking out four over 3 2/3 innings while allowing just one hit and two walks.

DeCaro suffered through unusual struggles in the Chapel Hill Regional, but I attribute that to short rest. He started the Friday opener against Long Island University, then was asked to pitch three days later.

For college baseball teams, there’s usually a weekend rotation and a few, midweek starters.

Aidan Haugh didn’t pitch well in Sunday night’s 8-4 loss to LSU, but Elon transfer Shea Sprague shined in Saturday’s 6-2 win over LSU, tossing 4 1/3 shutout innings with three strikeouts, just two walks and four hits allowed.

It’s no surprise that, as a result of Saturday’s strong outing, Sprague gets the ball Friday night for Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

Sprague’s Saturday victory was his best outing since April 27, when he hurled a season-high 6 2/3 innings against Virginia Tech, striking out six Hokies while allowing just one run on four hits. Sprague leads Diamond Heel starters in earned run average (3.76), plus his 58 strikeouts tie him with Haugh for third-most amongst UNC pitchers.

Can Sprague shut down the JJ Wetherholt-led West Virginia lineup?

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LSU head baseball coach Jay Johnson calls Diamond Heels a national title contender

It’s never easy to admit how good a team that just ended your season is. LSU head coach Jay Johnson did exactly that after UNC advanced to the Super Regionals Monday night.

Three days ago, the UNC baseball team was three outs away from watching its season end.

North Carolina trailed the defending champion LSU Tigers, 3-2, after an early offensive explosion from both teams. The Diamond Heels scored two quick runs in the first inning, followed by LSU taking a lead with a groundout and two home runs.

Friday night hero Gavin Gallaher was on second base – with one out –in the top of the ninth. UNC starting shortstop Colby Wilkerson faced a quick 0-2 count, sending a shockwave of worry through the Boshamer Stadium crowd.

Wilkerson battled back to a 2-2 count, then sent the game-tying single into  left field. After North Carolina closer Dalton Pence worked around a Hayden Travinski single in the bottom half, Alex Madera gave the Diamond Heels a 4-3 lead on a full-count, 2-out single in the top of the 10th.

Pence walked Jared Jones and later watched as a Josh Pearson fly ball head into deep center field, but 2-time ACC Defensive Player of the year Vance Honeycutt caught Pearson’s fly ball and ended the Chapel Hill Regional.

With all of this being said – and heartbreak surely creeping through the LSU dugout – Tigers head coach Jay Johnson praised UNC as a team that can win the College World Series.

“They might win it,” Jay Johnson said about the Diamond Heels in postgame interviews Monday night. “They have the pieces to win the national title. They’re built for the ballpark in Omaha. They do a terrific job coaching.”

I can’t imagine this was easy for Johnson to say, but I appreciate the vote of confidence from one of the best coaches in college baseball. He helped LSU to its seventh CWS title last year, so he truly knows what to look for in a title contender.

UNC now welcomes West Virginia to Boshamer Stadium for the Chapel Hill Super Regional, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. ET on Friday, June 7.

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How to watch UNC-West Virginia baseball in Chapel Hill Super Regional

Whether you’re watching on your TV, iPad, phone or another streaming device, here’s exactly how you can tune in to the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

If you want action-packed college baseball this weekend, make sure your TV is programmed to ESPN2.

UNC and West Virginia will be playing each other in the Chapel Hill Super Regional, which starts on Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. ET.

The Diamond Heels and Mountaineers are fairly new to each other, only playing nine times (North Carolina holds a 7-2 edge), but the last matchup was a 5-1 West Virginia win on March 19, 2014 in Boshamer Stadium.

UNC had a tough time winning its own Regional on Monday night, needing a Colby Wilkerson game-tying hit in the ninth inning, go-ahead single from Alex Madera in the 10th, plus a career outing from star closer Dalton Pence to win 4-3 over the defending College World Series champion LSU Tigers.

West Virginia, on the other hand, breezed through the Tuscon (Ariz.) Regional. The Mountaineers beat Dallas Baptist 4-1 in their opener, then Grand Canyon twice (5-2, 10-6) to capture its first Regional Title in program history. WVU overcame a 3-2 deficit after the first inning in Sunday’s Regional Final, scoring eight runs in the next five innings, then hanging on for a 4-run victory.

The Chapel Hill Super Regional will almost certainly live up to its hype. How can you watch it?

UNC-WVU CHAPEL HILL SUPER REGIONAL TV, RADIO, AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHAT: UNC (45-14, 22-8 ACC) vs. West Virginia (36-22, 19-11)

WHEN: Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. ET, Saturday, June 8 at 8 p.m. ET, Sunday, June 9 at 3 p.m. ET (if necessary)

LOCATION: Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, NC

TV: ESPN2 (Watch and stream the game live on ESPN)

ANNOUNCERS: Mike Monaco, Kyle Peterson

SATELLITE RADIO: Tar Heel Sports Network

WEBSITE: WatchESPN

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