Tar Heels take down VCU to force elimination game

The UNC baseball program saved their season on Sunday, winning both games capped off by a 19-8 victory over VCU.

The Diamond Heels took care of business on Sunday, winning both games to keep their season alive. Hours after UNC survived a late push by Georgia to beat the Bulldogs 6-5, they brought the bats out for a big 19-8 win over VCU.

The win comes a day after the Rams got the best of UNC on Saturday night to advance in the winners bracket. But after UNC’s win on Sunday, it will be a winner take all matchup Monday night.

VCU got on the board first in the first inning with a two-run homer by Tyler Locklear. After that, it was all UNC.

The Tar Heels scored 7 runs in the first inning to grab a 7-2 lead headlined by home runs from Vance Honeycutt and Jason Castagnozzi. While VCU got 3 back in the second to make it 7-5, UNC responded with two more in the third inning.

They added five in the fifth and then three more in the eighth to cruise to the big win. UNC hit a total of four home runs in the game, jumping all over VCU pitching in this one.

As UNC completed their task on Sunday by winning both games, they are right back in this mix to win the regional. It won’t be easy, however. The Rams have proven they can beat UNC already as they took the first meeting between the two sides. The Tar Heels did respond with a statement win on Sunday and the hope is that the bats wake up again on Monday.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill.

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