University of North Carolina Athletics
Sunday, June 8
Chapel Hill
Noon
North Carolina
46-15
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Arizona
44-19
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Arizona
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North Carolina
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Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Arizona Rallies Past Diamond Heels, 4-3
June 8, 2025 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Arizona scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to come from behind and beat fifth-seeded North Carolina, 4-3, in the final game of the Chapel Hill Super Regional on Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.
The loss prevented the Tar Heels from making their second consecutive College World Series appearance. The Wildcats will be making their 19th CWS trip and their first since 2021. Carolina's season ends at 46-15, while Arizona advanced to Omaha with a record of 44-19.
"First thing I want to do is congratulate Arizona," Carolina head coach Scott Forbes said afterward. "They played tough the whole weekend, obviously. We jumped on them that first game (Friday) but they're a really good team and they're extremely well coached. They found a way to win that game, so I want to congratulate them.
"Sports will rip your heart out sometimes, but what I'm thankful for and what our staff is most thankful for is how our players played, how they conducted themselves the entire season. They have nothing at all to hang their heads about.
They've represented this university, they've represented our program in an absolute first-class manner."
Arizona struck first and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Garen Caulfield homered down the left field line.
An inning-and-a-half later in the bottom of the third, Jackson Van De Brake crushed a three-run home run to left field, driving in Kane Kepley and Carter French and making the score 3-1 Carolina after three innings.
After four scoreless frames, Arizona struck for three runs in the eighth to retake the lead. Easton Breyfogle's bunt single and an error by Gavin Gallaher allowed Andrew Cain to score from second base to make the score 3-2 in Carolina's favor. Shortly thereafter, Mason White's two-run single to centerfield gave Arizona a 4-3 lead.
UNC tried to rally with walks to Van De Brake and Hunter Stokely in the bottom of the eighth, but Wildcat relievers blanked Carolina in the final six innings. Both teams managed just five hits on the day.
"Number one, I want to just congratulate North Carolina, great year," said Arizona head coach Chip Hale. "Obviously, we're getting the chance to move on to Omaha and move on, and we'll see when we get there but it's going to be hard to find a team as good as them—lineup, pitching, the way they play the game. So I want to congratulate them on a great year, and I know they're disappointed."
Smith Bailey started on the mound for the Wildcats and went 6.0 innings, allowing three earned runs and five hits. Julian Tonghini pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Bailey and picked up the win, improving to 5-2. Tony Pluta pitched the ninth to earn his 14th save of the season.
Ryan Lynch started for the Tar Heels and pitched well, allowing just three hits and three earned runs in 7.0 strong innings. Walker McDuffie (3-3) allowed a walk and an earned run in 0.1 relief innings to take the loss.
The loss prevented the Tar Heels from making their second consecutive College World Series appearance. The Wildcats will be making their 19th CWS trip and their first since 2021. Carolina's season ends at 46-15, while Arizona advanced to Omaha with a record of 44-19.
"First thing I want to do is congratulate Arizona," Carolina head coach Scott Forbes said afterward. "They played tough the whole weekend, obviously. We jumped on them that first game (Friday) but they're a really good team and they're extremely well coached. They found a way to win that game, so I want to congratulate them.
"Sports will rip your heart out sometimes, but what I'm thankful for and what our staff is most thankful for is how our players played, how they conducted themselves the entire season. They have nothing at all to hang their heads about.
They've represented this university, they've represented our program in an absolute first-class manner."
Arizona struck first and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Garen Caulfield homered down the left field line.
An inning-and-a-half later in the bottom of the third, Jackson Van De Brake crushed a three-run home run to left field, driving in Kane Kepley and Carter French and making the score 3-1 Carolina after three innings.
After four scoreless frames, Arizona struck for three runs in the eighth to retake the lead. Easton Breyfogle's bunt single and an error by Gavin Gallaher allowed Andrew Cain to score from second base to make the score 3-2 in Carolina's favor. Shortly thereafter, Mason White's two-run single to centerfield gave Arizona a 4-3 lead.
UNC tried to rally with walks to Van De Brake and Hunter Stokely in the bottom of the eighth, but Wildcat relievers blanked Carolina in the final six innings. Both teams managed just five hits on the day.
"Number one, I want to just congratulate North Carolina, great year," said Arizona head coach Chip Hale. "Obviously, we're getting the chance to move on to Omaha and move on, and we'll see when we get there but it's going to be hard to find a team as good as them—lineup, pitching, the way they play the game. So I want to congratulate them on a great year, and I know they're disappointed."
Smith Bailey started on the mound for the Wildcats and went 6.0 innings, allowing three earned runs and five hits. Julian Tonghini pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Bailey and picked up the win, improving to 5-2. Tony Pluta pitched the ninth to earn his 14th save of the season.
Ryan Lynch started for the Tar Heels and pitched well, allowing just three hits and three earned runs in 7.0 strong innings. Walker McDuffie (3-3) allowed a walk and an earned run in 0.1 relief innings to take the loss.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tonghini, Julian (5-2)
L: McDuffie, Walker (3-3)
S: Pluta, Tony (14)
Batting:
2B: Cain, Andrew 1
HR: Caulfield, Garen 1
RBI: White, Mason 2 ; Caulfield, Garen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Caulfield, Garen 1 ; Cain, Andrew 1 ; Splaine, Tommy 1 ; Adams, TJ 1
Batting:
HR: Van De Brake, Jackson 1
RBI: Van De Brake, Jackson 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Kepley, Kane 1 ; Van De Brake, Jackson 1 ; French, Carter 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballINF
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