Vance Honeycutt is He is considered one of the most promising prospects. in the upcoming MLB Draft.
On Friday night, the University of North Carolina outfielder proved why with one swing.
In the Tar Heels’ Super Regional game against West Virginia University, the Mountaineers led 6-5 in the top of the ninth thanks to a four-run sixth inning. Starting pitcher Derek Clark was still in the game at the start of the ninth and continued pitching late into the night to try to relieve West Virginia’s injury-plagued relief corps.
But Clark gave up a game-tying home run to freshman catcher Luke Stevenson and, after striking out pinch-hitter Johnny Castagnozzi, gave up a single to the eighth batter in the lineup, NC State shortstop Alex Madera.
It was his 144th pitch of the night.
West Virginia coach Randy Mazey knew he had to put his starting pitcher on the field with all his energy. He turned to Aidan Major, who recorded the second out of the inning to put the Mountaineers within one out of extra innings. But Honeycutt, the school’s all-time home run leader, came to bat with the winning run on first base.
After working the count to 3-0, Honeycutt got the green light but swung and missed on a fastball.
He made no mistakes in his second at-bat.
The moonshot ended the game, giving UNC an 8-6 walk-off victory.
In the process, the Mountaineers were left stunned and wondering what could have been on Friday night in Chapel Hill.
