Diamond Heels Walk Off Virginia, 3-2

Friday, June 14

Omaha, Neb.

2 p.m. ET

North Carolina

Virginia

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

June 14, 2024 | Baseball

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By: UNC Athletics Communications

OMAHA, Neb. – Yes, the Tar Heels did it again.

Vance Honeycutt smacked a two-out, walk-off single in the ninth inning for his first hit of the game, and No. 4 seed North Carolina defeated No. 12 seed Virginia 3-2 in the first game of the College World Series on Friday. It marked the fourth time this postseason that UNC has won on the final at-bat of the game.

With this win, Carolina (48-14) advances to the winner's bracket and will face the winner of Friday night's game between No. 1 seed Tennessee and No. 8 Florida State on Sunday night at 7 p.m. EST.

"You shouldn't feel like he's going to come through every time, but that's how I felt," UNC outfielder Casey Cook said. "And that's just how it's been going recently.

"Colby popped up, and Vance stepped up to the plate, and I think everyone in the dugout knew he was going to come through."

Pinch-hitter Jackson Van De Brake led off the ninth with a double, then moved to third on Alex Madera's sacrifice bunt.

"Jackson Van De Brake is one of our captains," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "There's a reason this team is like this. There's a kid, All-ACC last year, [the season] hasn't gone like he wanted it to, and he steps up there and hits a double."

The Tar Heels trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh, but Cook knotted the score with an RBI single to left, chasing Virginia starter Evan Blanco.

Blanco gave up a lead-off single to Madera, Colby Wilkerson sacrificed him to second and Cook delivered a two-out base hit.

Blanco scattered seven hits over 6 2/3 innings with four strikeouts before Cook chased him from the game.

Cook went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Luke Stevenson finished 2-for-4.

Henry Godbout's RBI double in the sixth gave Virginia (46-16) a 2-1 lead.

After Godbout put the Cavaliers ahead, Dalton Pence (5-1) took the mound, pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings, and allowed just one base runner. He retired the final seven men he faced in order.

"Dalton is Dalton," Forbes said. "He's been our horse the whole season. And the one thing I like most, looking at the box score, is he only threw 29 pitches. So that horse is going to be back out there most likely on Sunday night."

Chase Hungate (7-2) took the loss and allowed one run and two hits in two innings pitched.

Carolina scored in the first when Anthony Donofrio hit a ground ball to second base, scoring Cook from third.

Henry Ford tied the game for the Cavaliers with an RBI single in the third.

Virginia loaded the bases in the first as UNC starter Jason DeCaro walked two batters and hit another, but the freshman struck out Harrison Didawick to end the inning without a runner crossing the plate.

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