University of North Carolina Athletics
Baseball Season Review: Top 10 Moments
July 22, 2024 | Baseball
The 2024 season marked North Carolina's return to the College World Series for the first time since 2018. In making their eighth trip to Omaha since 2006, the Tar Heels claimed their eighth ACC Coastal Division title, won their 15th regional title and posted the 25th 40-win season in program history.
New school records were set in home runs (115) and RBIs (502) while posting the second-highest slugging percentage (.524) and second-most runs (541) in program history. Four players earned All-America honors, including four First Team selection for Vance Honeycutt. The Tar Heels had nine players named All-ACC with Honeycutt named the league's Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season and Scott Forbes was voted ACC Coach of the Year.
There were numerous moments that captured the heart of the 2024 team and its journey back to the College World Series. Below are GoHeels.com's top 10 moments of the 2024 season:
1. Gallaher Walks Off LIU In Grand Style
With the Tar Heels trailing 8-7 with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth against LIU in the Chapel Hill Regional opener, Gavin Gallaher hit a walk-off grand slam to send UNC into the winner's bracket.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 1
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 19, 2024
A Grand Fashion Walk-Off!! pic.twitter.com/naeySEsIj1
2. Omaha Bound!
Dalton Pence induced a ground ball to first base and won the race with to first Ben Lumsden to give UNC a 2-1 win and Super Regional sweep of West Virginia to earn Carolina its 12th trip to the College World Series. Vance Honeycutt led off the game with a home run and scored the game-winning run in the third as Pence closed the door with 2.2 scoreless innings and six strikeouts.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 2
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 19, 2024
Carolina returns to Omaha! pic.twitter.com/g3dpcUrB7h
3. More Bosh Magic
After the Tar Heels tied the regional championship game against LSU in the ninth, Alex Madera singled up the middle in the 10th to drive home Jackson Van De Brake with the winning run. Pence tossed 3.2 shutout innings with four strikeouts to end the game.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 3
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 18, 2024
Madera completes the comeback against LSU pic.twitter.com/6u3K9ZxhUv
4. Drive Home Safely
UNC scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, capped by a two-out, two-run walk-off home run from Vance Honeycutt to defeat West Virginia, 8-6, in game one of the Super Regional. Luke Stevenson homered to lead off the inning and tie the game.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 4
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 18, 2024
Honeycutt sends everyone home in game one of the Super Regional. pic.twitter.com/H4XoZukF2F
5. Honeycutt Does It Again
Honeycutt pushed Carolina past Virginia in the opening game of the College World Series with an RBI-single to left in the bottom of the ninth for his second walk-off hit in a week.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 5
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 18, 2024
Honeycutt walks off Virginia in Omaha! pic.twitter.com/5oKivm6Pm9
6. One Game, One Hitter, Three Homers
Parks Harber hit three home runs at Wake Forest on March 30, becoming the first Tar Heel to go deep three times in a game in 22 years. He belted a solo homer in the second and fourth inning and unleashed a two-run shot in the sixth leading UNC to a 10-6 win.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 6
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 17, 2024
Harber homers and then does it again and again pic.twitter.com/aonCI266Jv
7. Home Run King
Vance Honeycutt hit two home runs and became UNC's all-time home run leader May 10 against Louisville. He led off the game with his 57th career home run and crushed his 58th in the third to set the record. He finished his career with 65 homers.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 7
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 17, 2024
We have a new home run king ?? pic.twitter.com/WWHtX8qZMD
8. Coastal Champions
Carolina captured its eighth ACC Coastal Division title with a 16-7 win over Louisville on May 12. UNC won the division by two games over preseason favorite Virginia.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 8
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 16, 2024
ACC COASTAL DIVISION CHAMPIONS?? pic.twitter.com/HCPYxvcDBS
9. Home Sweet Home
The Tar Heels completed a three-game sweep of Notre Dame by winning their record-setting 27th consecutive game at Boshamer Stadium.
Top 10 Moments of 2024: No. 9
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 16, 2024
Record-setting 27th consecutive victory at The Bosh pic.twitter.com/hvUBK8bs5g
10. Back-To-Back-To-Back
Anthony Donofrio, Casey Cook and Parks Harber hit three consecutive home runs in the first inning of the Tar Heels' ACC Tournament opener against Pitt.
We're counting down the top 10 moments of the season. Three straight jacks to open the ACC Tournament against Pitt leads off at No. 10. pic.twitter.com/caFhFA9yWE
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) July 15, 2024