Vance Honeycutt hit a game-winning single to left field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead No. 4 University of North Carolina to a 3-2 victory over No. 12 Virginia in the opening game of the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Pinch hitter Jackson Van de Blake led off the top of the ninth with a double down the inside right field line off Virginia's Chase Hungate (7-2). Alex Madera laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Van de Blake to third base, and Colby Wilkerson was called for the out on a foul pop to catcher Jacob Ference.
Honeycutt took the mound and pitched a walk-off single on a 2-1 inning to give Dalton Pence (5-1) the winning run. Pence pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings in relief. Casey Cooke allowed three hits for the Tar Heels.
North Carolina (48-14) will play the winner of Friday night's game between Tennessee and Florida State on Sunday night. The loser of that game will play Virginia (46-16) in a consolation match, also on Sunday.
Virginia left-hander Evan Blanco gave up two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two.
With one out in the bottom of the first, North Carolina got going when Cook singled, advanced to third on a Parks Harbor double and scored on Anthony D'Onofrio's grounder.
The Cavaliers began the third inning with Ethan Anderson singled with one out, advanced to third on a Casey Salk double, and scored on Henry Ford's single to right field to tie the game.
Virginia took a 2–1 lead in the sixth inning when Henry Godbout walked North Carolina's Matt Poston and then Eric Becker doubled. After Bobby Whalen struck out, Griff O'Ferrall hit a sacrifice fly to center field to send Godbout home.
In the seventh inning, Madera singled to reach base and was bunted to second to tie the game for the Tar Heels. With two outs, Cook singled to left to drive in Madera and end Blanco's outing.
North Carolina right-hander Jason DeCaro allowed one run and four hits over four-plus innings, striking out six and walking four.
–Field Level Media