Omaha, Neb. – Atlantic Coast Conference foes battled during the first game of the 2024 NCAA Division I College World Series, with the No. 4 ranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels center fielder Vance Honeycutt hitting a game-winning RBI single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat No. 12 ranked University of Virginia Cavaliers 3-2.
Who else but @HoneycuttVance? pic.twitter.com/2tQEGd2yYC
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 14, 2024
“I was really just trying to slow it down at that moment and trying to get a good pitch to hit,” Honeycutt told World Baseball Network about his approach in his last at-bat.
Honeycutt broke the program’s all-time home run leader this spring with 63 passing Devy Bell, who played from 1984-87 and is also the only player in ACC history with at least 50 career home runs and 60 stolen bases.
Honeycutt is ranked No. 20 in the Top 200 Draft Prospects from MLBpipeline.com.
The Tar Heels got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, with right fielder Anthony Donorfrio hitting a ground ball to second base, scoring left fielder Casey Cook for the game’s first run.
Virginia did not crack the scoreboard until the top of the third inning, when catcher Henry Ford ripped an RBI single to right field, scoring designated hitter Ethan Anderson to tie the game at 1-1.
The Cavaliers took the lead in the top of the sixth inning, when shortstop Griff O’ Ferrall lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring second baseman Henry Godbout to take the lead at 2-1.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Virginia tied the game up at two apiece, with left fielder Casey Cook dialing an RBI single to left field, scoring second baseman Alex Madera to even the score at 2-2.
Virginia starter Evan Blanco threw 6.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, two earned runs, two walks, and struck out four batters.
During the bottom of the ninth inning, Tar Heels pinch hitter Jackson Van De Brake drove a lead-off double down the right field line to start the frame.
“Van De Brake, he’s one of our captains. There’s a reason this team is like it is. He was All-ACC last year and hasn’t gone like he wanted to, and he steps up there and hits a double,” Forbes said during the post-game press conference.
After a sacrifice bunt and a pop-out, Honeycutt came to the plate with two outs and smacked a game-winning single to left field off Hungate, scoring Van De Brake and beating Virginia 3-2.
The Virginia offense will be left thinking about missed opportunities after leaving 10 men on base.
No. 4 North Carolina (46-15) will play at 7 p.m. EST on Sunday, June 16 against No. 1 Tennessee (56-12) in the double-elimination round.
No. 12 Virginia (48-14) is on the brink of elimination and will play on Sunday, June 16, against Florida State University (47-16) at 2 p.m. EST.
No. 2 Kentucky (45-14) will play No. 10 NC State (38-21) at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 15.
No. 3 Texas A&M (49-13) will play Florida (34-28) at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 15.
All of the 2024 NCAA Division I CWS games will be televised on ESPN family networks.
(Photo Courtesy of The Fayetteville Observer)
