WATCH: Mikey Madej homer caps four-run first inning for UNC over VCU

Offenses have been surging around college baseball, especially early in elimination games. Balls have been flying out of ballparks as teams build large leads. North Carolina was no different in their Monday win or go-home game against VCU.

Already having one run on the board, Mikey Madej stepped up to the plate for the Tar Heels with runners on the corners. Swinging on the first pitch he saw, Madej hit a towering home run to left field to give North Carolina a four-run inning.

Madej knew it was gone from the moment it left his bat. He did not even take much time to stare at the ball. Instead, he opted for a bat lip and began his home run trot down the first base line.

You can watch the full play here.

Well UNC is off to a HOT start 🔥

(via @DiamondHeels) pic.twitter.com/WQ3yywQBGm

— ACC Network (@accnetwork) June 6, 2022

VCU was able to quickly respond and get their own run in the bottom of the first. It’s going to be a dogfight all afternoon for both teams for the right to advance in the NCAA Tournament.

A lot is on the line for North Carolina, as they look to advance to the Super Regional round. Making deep NCAA Tournament runs in nothing new for the program but they failed to make it out of their regional last season. The Tar Heels last made it to Omaha in 2018 and have never won a national championship.

Hanging on for the win against VCU on Monday night would go a long way toward accomplishing that goal.

Whoever emerges victorious in Chapel Hill will have Arkansas and Oklahoma State in the Super Regional. Those two programs are in the middle of a winner take all game as well. However, if the Razorbacks come out on top in Stillwater, North Carolina will host next weekend.

Huge opportunities are potentially ahead for the Tar Heels.