North Carolina edges West Virginia 2-1 to punch their tickets to College World Series

The North Carolina Tar Heels are going to Omaha. The Tar Heels punched their tickets to the 2024 College World Series on Saturday evening with a 2-1 win over the WVU Mountaineers in Game 2 of their Super Regional. Not surprisingly, the ‘Heels were propelled to victory by their superstar Vance Honeycutt and some excellent pitching. Honeycutt blasted a solo shot at the very beginning of the game, in the top of the first inning, to give the ‘Heels a 1-0 lead.

The ‘Heels tacked on another run for good measure. And the North Carolina pitching staff took care of the rest, shutting down the WVU bats for much of the rest of the game. But there were certainly plenty of moments of anxiety in the bottom of the ninth inning for the UNC crowd, when the Mountaineers had the bases juiced. But Dalton Pence was able to get out of the bases loaded jam and end the game, sending the ‘Heels to Omaha in dramatic fashion.

UNC pitcher Jason DeCaro continued to show just how much potential and promise he has, retiring nine batters in a row at one point.

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DeCaro was benched in the bottom of the seventh inning to a standing ovation from the home crowd in Chapel Hill. Through 6 1/3 innings, he allowed two hits, zero earned runs, and threw five strikeouts. He was replaced by Dalton Pence in the bottom of the seventh inning to face Grant Hussey, the Mountaineers career home run leader (37). Pence proceeded to send Hussey to the dugout, striking him out.

WVU reliever Carson Estridge got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning. While facing Vance Honeycutt with the count at 2-2, and the crowd on its feet, he was able to win the battle by striking him out on a 70-mph pitch.

Kyle Fitt of West Virginia delivered yet another critical play for the Mountaineers. In the top of the eighth inning against Dalton Pence, he slapped an RBI single that cut the North Carolina lead to 2-1.

Honeycutt also showcased his special defensive skills on Saturday night, making a spectacular double play that got his teammates fired up. The North Carolina star also made a beauty of a catch near the warning track in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In punching their tickets to the College World Series, it’s the 12th appearance in school history for the North Carolina program. It also marks their first trip to Omaha in six years. On March 1st, the ‘Heels odds to win the 2024 College World Series were 40-1, according to BetOnline.

Now, UNC is one step closer in their dreams of making that a reality. They’ll have some other members of the ACC joining them in Omaha, as the Virginia Cavaliers punched their tickets earlier on Saturday, after they defeated Kansas State 2-0 in their Super Regional.

UVA and UNC will be facing each other in their first game in the College World Series. Florida State is another ACC school that has already punched their tickets to Omaha, and Clemson and NC State still have the potential to join them.

With the win, North Carolina improved their overall record to 47-17 and West Virginia’s overall record dropped to 36-24. The Mountaineers’ 2024 campaign is officially over.