UNC Advances to CWS Championship Series
North Carolina edged West Virginia 12‑7 on Tuesday, clinching a berth in the College World Series championship series. The Tar Heels will now await the winner of the matchup between Georgia and Oklahoma, with the final series slated to begin Saturday.
The offensive onslaught was anchored by Owen Hull, who went 4‑for‑5 with two doubles and two RBI, and Gavin Gallaher, who matched him with a 4‑for‑5 performance and became the second Tar Heel to record four hits and four RBI in a CWS game.
UNC’s 12 runs marked their highest total since May and underscored a lineup that has been clicking at the plate. The team improved to 53‑12‑1 overall and has won 17 of its last 20 outings, highlighting a sustained stretch of dominance.
Starter Chansen Cole surrendered three earned runs in 2.1 innings, but the bullpen steadied the ship after Jackson Rose entered in relief. Rose’s composure under pressure helped keep the Mountaineers at bay until the later innings.
Coach Scott Forbes praised Rose’s performance and the collective readiness of his squad, noting the joy and focus that have characterized the team throughout the tournament.
Early in the game, Carolina struck first with a 2‑0 lead in the top of the first, fueled by key hits from Jake Schaffner, Owen Hull and Gavin Gallaher. The momentum shifted quickly, with Gallaher extending his hitting streak to 13 games.
A flurry of extra‑base hits in the fourth and seventh innings stretched the lead to double digits, as Hull’s two‑out triple and subsequent RBI single capped a nine‑run burst. West Virginia rallied in the bottom of the seventh and added a run in the eighth, but the final tally remained 12‑7.
The Tar Heels’ victory also featured a solo home run by Gavin Kelly in the eighth off Caden Glauber, sealing the win and sending the crowd into celebration.