Tar Heels Rally Past West Virginia To Advance In CWS, 5-2

Sunday, June 14

Omaha, Neb.

7 PM ET

North Carolina

52-12-1

West Virginia

46-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
West Virginia	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	2
North Carolina	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	X	5	8	0

Gavin Gallaher's two-run triple provided the key hit in Sunday's win.

Photo by: AINSLEY E. FAUTH

June 14, 2026 | Baseball

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By: Matt Bowers

OMAHA, NEB.—Fifth-seeded North Carolina scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to break open a pitcher's duel and top #16 seed West Virginia, 5-2, on Sunday night at Charles Schwab Field in the winner's bracket of the College World Series.

UNC is a game away from reaching the CWS final series, improving to 52-12-1 with the victory. The Mountaineers, who entered the game having won 18 of their last 20 games, dropped to 46-16. The Tar Heels have won 16 of 19 contests, continuing their standout season.

With the win, Carolina advanced and will play its next game on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET in Omaha against either West Virginia or Troy. WVU will play Troy in an elimination game on Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET.

Carolina has started 2-0 in the College World Series for the first time since 2006. Teams that start 2-0 in the CWS have won 29 of the last 35 NCAA championships. It's the first time UNC has allowed two or fewer runs in consecutive CWS games since beating LSU 4-2 and NC State 7-0 in 2013.

The Tar Heels manufactured two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a quick, 2-0 lead. WVU tied it with single runs in the third and fourth, then the game was a scoreless pitcher's duel until UNC took the lead in the bottom of the seventh by scoring three, taking advantage of two Mountaineer errors.

Gavin Gallaher's two-run triple was the key blow and provided the game-winning RBI.

"We preach defense and pitching here at UNC," Gallaher said. "We know how important that is, especially when you're playing in Omaha on the biggest stage. So when other teams make those mistakes, it's important that you capitalize, because when you get to this point in the season, you're not going to get many chances like that. Fortunately, they did make those mistakes and we capitalized."

Walker McDuffie (9-3) pitched 3.2 scoreless, hitless innings and picked up the win for Carolina, striking out four and allowing two walks.

Caden Glauber pitched the final 0.2 innings to pick up his fifth save of the season, blowing away both batters he faced with strikeouts. Carolina is 27-0 this season when he pitches.

"Zero thought of anybody else except Caden Glauber [coming into the game late]," Forbes aid. "I thought McDuffie was really pitching well, too, and he had all three pitches working. But I knew in my mind, okay if we get to a certain point, I'm going to probably make a change. We liked the match-up with McDuffie."

Maxx Yehl (9-3) started for WVU, allowing two first-inning runs before settling down to strike out seven. He allowed just two runs before Carolina added three in the bottom of the seventh to pick up the win.

How It Happened:
• In the bottom of the first inning, Carolina loaded the bases when Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull hit back-to-back singles and Macon Winslow was hit by a pitch. Erik Paulsen followed with a based-loaded walk to drive in Gallaher, who'd reached on a fielder's choice. Cooper Nicholson then drove in Hull on a groundout for a 2-0 Tar Heel lead.
• The Mountaineers cut the UNC advantage in half in the top of the third when Ben Lumsden singled to right field and scored on a single up the middle by Armani Guzman.
• In the top of the fourth, WVU tied it at 2-2. The Mountaineers put runners at first and third base to start the frame before Sean Smith scored on a double play that helped kill the rally but still allowed the run.
• Carolina took control with three runs in the bottom of the seventh when Gallaher drove in Carter French and Schaffner with a two-run triple. Hull followed with an RBI single to make the score 5-2.
• West Virginia mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth, putting runners on first and second with one out to drive McDuffie from the game. Glauber relieved him and got the final two outs to pick up the save.
• Tar Heel Ryan Lynch started on the mound and allowed five hits and a pair of earned runs in 4.2 innings while striking out two.