In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the USC Trojans opened the Super Regional with a commanding performance that quickly turned into a dramatic turnaround.
After five innings the Tar Heels had built a 5‑1 lead, thanks to a steady barrage of hits and a solid early pitching effort that kept the Trojans at bay.
Sixth‑Inning Surge
The momentum shifted dramatically in the sixth inning when USC exploded for five runs, the highlight being a grand slam by Dean Carpentier that flipped the scoreboard.
The rally didn’t stop there; the Trojans added three more runs in the seventh, pushing the lead to 9‑5 and forcing North Carolina into a defensive hole.
Relief pitcher Walker McDuffie entered in the opening frame of the sixth but could not contain the onslaught, surrendering four earned runs on three hits and a walk before being pulled after just 0.1 innings.
The loss puts North Carolina on the brink of elimination, as they prepare for a Saturday showdown that could decide the series, while USC rides the wave of confidence generated by the late‑game explosion.
Looking Ahead
With the series now hanging in the balance, both teams will need to adjust their strategies, but the early signs suggest that the Trojans’ batters are poised to keep the pressure on.