A Nail‑Biter in Chapel Hill
The Tar Heels of North Carolina edged out the Pirates of East Carolina 7‑5 in a tightly contested winners’ bracket game at the Chapel Hill Regional, a victory that puts them one step closer to a coveted Super Regional appearance.
East Carolina drew first blood, building a 3‑0 advantage by the end of the third inning, but the Tar Heels quickly turned the tide.
A three‑run homer by sophomore Colin Hynek in the fourth frame knotted the score, igniting a rally that would see North Carolina seize the lead.
Gavin Gallaher’s clutch doubles drove in two runs, first scoring Owen Hull and later adding two more to push the lead to 7‑3, while Jake Schaffner’s subsequent double extended the cushion.
On the mound, right‑hander Caden Glauber silenced the Pirates’ late surge with a strikeout streak that brought his total to five in just over two innings, before closer Walker McDuffie sealed the 7‑5 final with three perfect outs.
Standout Moments
Hynek’s timely homer, Gallaher’s doubles and Glauber’s dominant relief appearance proved decisive, while Erik Paulsen and Tyler Howe provided the early momentum that sparked the comeback.