The 2024 College World Series officially kicked off on Friday afternoon, and the first game didn’t lack for drama, with North Carolina topping Virginia 3-2 on a walk-off single. Meanwhile, Tennessee plays Florida State in their first-round game at 7 p.m. ET.
North Carolina 3, Virginia 3
North Carolina has taken the first win of the 2024 College World Series with a 3-2 walk-off victory over Virginia.
The Tar Heels claimed victory with some heroics from junior center fielder Vance Honeycutt. With the game tied 2-2 at the bottom of the ninth, Honeycutt hit a single to give pinch hitter Jackson Van De Brake the winning run.
Honeycutt also hit a walk-off home run to give UNC a win in the Super Regionals last weekend.
The Tar Heels took the first run of the day in the first inning, with a groundout from right fielder Anthony Donofrio to send home left fielder Casey Cook. In the third inning, the Cavaliers’ hot bats set up an RBI from first baseman Henry Ford to tie things up.
Some strong defense on both sides kept the score even for a while, before Virginia took the lead in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly from shortstop Griff O’Ferrall.
In the seventh inning, UNC found its response when Cook hit an RBI double — with some help from a poor throw from Virginia left fielder Harrison Didawick.
The 2-2 score held through the last two innings, until Honeycutt saved the day for the Tar Heels.
Overall, it was the defense that made this game. Besides his hitting heroics, Honeycutt recorded several outs at center field, while O’Ferrall threw several groundouts for Virginia to keep them in this game.
The pitching was strong, too: Jason DeCaro, the freshman starting pitcher for the Tar Heels, recorded six strikeouts in five innings before he was pulled. Evan Blanco, sophomore pitcher for the Cavaliers, lasted seven innings and put up four strikeouts before leaving the mound.
With the College World Series being double elimination, the Cavaliers have one more chance to stay in the tournament with a matchup against the loser of Tennessee vs. Florida State Friday night. North Carolina, meanwhile, will have some time to celebrate before playing the winner of that game on Sunday.
