UNC Advances to Men’s College World Series Finals

Ten days ago, North Carolina State held a slim 3-1 lead over USC in the bottom of the eighth inning during Game 3 of the Super Regional. But in a dramatic turn late in the game, the Tar Heels managed to score three runs in the last two innings, clinching a walk-off victory thanks to a crucial double by Owen Hull, which secured their spot in the Men’s College World Series.

Now, Hull and his teammates are headed to the finals after defeating West Virginia 12-7.

UNC faced West Virginia in Omaha, needing a win to advance, while the Mountaineers were aiming for a rematch to force a final showdown. The game kicked off with Hull giving the Tar Heels an early edge, connecting for another extra-base hit in the first inning.

He stole third and managed to score on an error, a move that showed their aggressive approach right from the start.

West Virginia immediately countered, getting one run in the bottom of the first. However, UNC took complete control during the third and fourth innings. A standout moment came when Cooper Nicholson delivered a triple in the top of the third, bringing in three runs.

Then, in the fourth inning, the Tar Heels struck again, with Hull hitting a double that allowed Carter French to score and contribute to their growing lead.

It didn’t stop there. Gavin Gallaher followed up with a single, and both Hull and Jake Schnuffer homered, pushing the score to 8-1 for UNC.

While the hitters thrived, Jackson Rhodes was managing to keep things together on the mound. Although Folger Boaz started, they relied on the freshman left-hander throughout the game.

Rhodes began strong, using his fastball and slider effectively, and later mixed in a curveball—this strategy clearly kept the hitters guessing. He recorded efficient innings, needing just 6 pitches in the second and even fewer in subsequent frames.

In the sixth inning, Hull hit another triple down the right field line, marking a notable achievement as he became the first UNC player since 2011 with four hits in the MCWS. He scored again from a single by Gallaher, increasing the lead to 9-1.

For Gallaher, who had recently found his rhythm in Omaha, this was already his 32nd RBI in 25 NCAA Tournament games, making him the most productive active player in that regard.

After another stolen base, Erik Paulsen’s single brought Gallaher home, extending the score to 10-1, signaling a lopsided affair.

However, West Virginia was not about to accept defeat that easily.

Rhodes finally encountered some trouble in the bottom of the sixth, allowing the bases to load after a couple of singles and a walk. That prompted Scott Forbes to call on Matthew Matheis from the bullpen, concluding Rhodes’s day after 58 pitches. Matheis quickly ended the inning with a double play.

UNC continued to put runs on the board, adding two more in the seventh to set a new benchmark for the school with 12 runs in a Men’s College World Series game.

West Virginia rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs and making a dent in the lead, prompting Forbes to turn to Caden Glauber, a freshman relief pitcher with an impressive track record.

A passed ball allowed another run for the Mountaineers, bringing the score to 12-6, which ignited excitement among their fans while causing some concern for the Carolina supporters.

After a long at-bat, Glauber managed to get Ben Lumsden out to try and halt the Mountaineer momentum.

And just when it seemed like the game might tilt again, Gavin Kelly’s solo shot in the bottom of the eighth kept West Virginia’s hopes alive, narrowing the gap to five.

Yet Glauber showed resilience, striking out Sean Smith in the ninth and handling a couple of other plays to close the game out, ultimately ending with a fly ball that solidified the Tar Heels’ triumph and triggered celebrations among their fans.

For Hull, it was an impressive performance, finishing the game with four hits, including a double and a triple, while keeping his hitting streak alive at 12 games—since a last no-hit effort back on May 16 against North Carolina State.

After the win, Gallaher reflected, “We do it in different ways… I’m just grateful to be here.”

The Tar Heels are set to face either Oklahoma or Georgia in the finals starting Saturday night, with those teams clashing this week. Georgia must win to force a deciding match, whereas a victory for the Sooners will see them advance directly to play against UNC.