UNC’s Gallaher Finally Gets His Hit in Men’s College World Series

During the bottom of the seventh inning on Friday night in Omaha, Gavin Gallaher, the second baseman for UNC, was still in search of his first career hit in the Men’s College World Series. Prior to this moment, he had gone 0-for-15 in Omaha.

But finally, Gallaher made contact and secured that first hit.

He hit a single, managing to sneak it past shortstop Owen Paino, which brought Colin Hynek home from second base and gave the Tar Heels a slim 3-2 advantage.

This was pivotal, as UNC came out on top over Ole Miss with a final score of 6-2, marking their first victory in the Men’s College World Series.

Both teams displayed impressive pitching performances. Ole Miss’s Taylor Rabe allowed just one earned run over 5.2 innings, while UNC’s Jason DeCaro, a standout in the previous round against USC, pitched 6.2 innings, giving up only two earned runs.

In the seventh inning, UNC managed to score two runs, taking the lead decisively. After two walks, Carter French, batting ninth in the lineup, executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the runners and flip the lineup.

Next, Jake Schaffner, leading off the inning, sent a fly ball deep to right, allowing Tyler to score and tying the game at 2-2.

This setup was perfect for Gallaher, who finally got his hit in Omaha.

Interestingly, he previously delivered a grand slam during the 2024 Regional Tournament against LIU, showcasing his knack for crucial moments.

But this was a different stage, the Men’s College World Series.

Yet, UNC’s offensive push wasn’t finished, as Hynek stepped up in the eighth inning.

In a notable ninth inning, Ole Miss stirred up some concern when Luke Romine hit a single. However, relief pitcher Caden Glauber countered by forcing a double play and then struck out leadoff batter Dom Decker to wrap up the game.

The Tar Heels have now won all 26 games this season where Glauber has appeared, marking a continued dominance in Omaha, including this being their third straight season opening with a win.

But it was Gallaher, often dubbed “Mr. Postseason,” who was the focal point. After the game, he shifted the spotlight to something personal.

“First off, it’s my sister’s birthday—happy birthday to her! My whole family is here, and I’m really grateful,” Gallaher shared. He also expressed some frustration with himself from 2024.

He mentioned a timeout called by Scott Forbes just before his critical hit.

“He told me to slow down. His presence is great, and he really knows how to guide me,” Gallaher acknowledged.

The Tar Heels are set to play West Virginia on Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET, while Ole Miss will face Troy in an elimination matchup at 2 p.m. on the same day.