The first game of the Chapel Hill Super Regional delivered a surprising twist, with USC edging UNC 9-5 in a contest that swung back and forth before the Trojans pulled ahead in the later innings.
Ryan Lynch opened strong for the Tar Heels, but his composure slipped in the sixth when Dean Carpentier launched a grand slam that marked the first run allowed by UNC all season, shifting momentum decisively toward USC.
USC’s relief corps steadied the ship, as Mason Edwards had already surrendered four runs in three innings, while Walker McDuffie struggled, giving up four earned runs on four hits. Freshman lefty Jackson Rose then shut the door, retiring the side in the eighth and ninth to preserve the lead.
What It Means for UNC
The Tar Heels now face a must‑win scenario in the next two games to keep their College World Series hopes alive, a task made tougher by the Trojans’ recent stretch of retiring ten consecutive batters entering the ninth.
Having rallied from a four‑run deficit twice this season, UNC’s resilience will be tested again, but the odds suggest a third comeback may not materialize.