In two games against West Virginia, North Carolina second baseman Gavin Gallaher has come up big for the Tar Heels. On Wednesday, he had a four-hit game in a 12-7 win for North Carolina against the Mountaineers. That win sent the Tar Heels to the national championship series for the first time since 2007.
Gallaher had four hits in Wednesday’s game and had four RBIs as well. He was a huge catalyst for a big-time showing for the Tar Heels offensively. North Carolina had 16 hits as a team against West Virginia. It was the most hits in a game this season, dating back to the ACC Tournament against Pittsburgh on May 23.
Gallaher also had a big two-run triple on Sunday against West Virginia. That hit gave North Carolina a two-run lead late in the game that sealed a 2-0 start to the College World Series for the Tar Heels.
GALLAHER? GALLA???. ?@DiamondHeels take a 4-2 lead in the 7th.
? ESPN pic.twitter.com/qHuQjOF3Oj
— ACC Baseball (@ACCBaseball) June 15, 2026
Gallaher and an improved College World Series trip as a junior, 2026 season stats
As a freshman in 2024, Gallaher and the Tar Heels made a trip to the College World Series, where they went 1-2. North Carolina won a game against Virginia, but lost games to Tennessee and Florida State in Omaha that season. During those three games, Gallaher went hitless in 12 at-bats at Charles Schwab Field.
This time around, he has six hits and seven RBIs in the 2026 College World Series.
In 2026, Gallaher has a .292 batting average, 13 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, and 61 RBIs. He reached a career-best 81 hits this season as well.
Up next for North Carolina
North Carolina will play either Georgia or Oklahoma in the 2026 national championship series, a best-of-three series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
Game one of the national championship series is Friday, June 20, at 8 p.m. ET. The game is on ESPN.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: North Carolina infielder Gavin Gallaher (5) during an NCAA baseball College World Series game against Mississippi, Friday, June 12, 2026 in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
