OMAHA, Neb. – On Sunday, June 14, the North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 5-2 in the 2026 College World Series.
For the first time since 2006, the Tar Heels start a trip to Omaha and the College World Series in the driver’s seat with a 2-0 record. North Carolina’s head coach, Scott Forbes, talked about the feeling.
“It feels great,” Forbes said. “I was a pitching coach the last time we started 2-0 back in 2006. Maybe that can help me prepare and make sure our guys do not get too comfortable. They have to understand that our goal is to play really well on Wednesday.”
North Carolina jumps on top early, West Virginia responds in the third and fourth innings
North Carolina got a quick start and jumped all over Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Maxx Yehl. The Tar Heels loaded the bases, and Erik Paulsen drew a walk, which scored the first run of the game.
Then, Cooper Nicholson grounded out for North Carolina, but that allowed Owen Hull to score and give the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead.
Nicholson talked about being able to get runs early on an elite pitcher like Yehl.
“I was not trying to do too much,” Nicholson told World Baseball Network. “I just wanted to put the ball in play and give us an early start.”
The Mounatineers would not take too long to respond. In the third inning, Armani Guzman hit a single up the middle that scored his teammate Ben Lumsden from second base. This cut North Carolina’s lead in half and made it a 2-1 game.
In the fourth inning, West Virginia struck again. With runners at the corners, shortstop Matt Ineich grounded into a double play. However, that allowed Sean Smith to score. This tied the game up at 2-2.
Hull and Gallaher break a long tie in the seventh inning
After no runs in the fifth and sixth innings, North Carolina came through with a crooked number in the seventh inning.
With runners on first and second after an error by West Virginia second baseman Brodie Kresser, Gavin Gallaher hit a two-run triple that broke the tie and gave the Tar Heels a 4-2 lead.
Forbes defined Gallaher as a true “baseball player” after his late-game heroics against the Mountaineers.
“Gallaher is the definition of a baseball player,” Forbes said. “He is old school and does not care where he plays in the field; he just wants to win.”
Hull followed suit and singled up the middle in the next at-bat. This allowed Gallaher to score from third base and gave North Carolina a 5-2 lead heading into the eighth inning.
Walker McDuffie and Caden Glauber shine in relief once again
Two of the toughest relievers in all of college baseball delivered once again for North Carolina. Walker McDuffie went 3 2/3 innings and struck out four West Virginia hitters. He allowed no runs during his outing and earned the win on the mound for the Tar Heels. It was his ninth win of the season.
Forbes talked about the way McDuffie has changed mentally during the 2026 postseason.
“He has worked his tail off to be a more complete pitcher,” Forbes said regarding McDuffie. “He did not have his changeup a season ago, and that allowed him to be one of the MVPs of our team.”
Caden Glauber, after a sensational outing against Ole Miss on Friday night, came in to pitch once again against the Mountaineers. He struck out two hitters to record the final two outs needed for the win. It was Glauber’s fifth save of the season, and he is now up to 103 strikeouts in his freshman season.
Forbes knew he wanted to go to Glauber to end the game and reassured media members that after the win.
“I had zero thought of going to anyone else except Glauber,” Forbes said.
Up next for North Carolina
The North Carolina Tar Heels now get a long break and will not play until Wednesday, June 17. They will await and play the winner of the elimination game between Troy and West Virginia.
North Carolina’s next game on June 17 at Charles Schwab Field is at 2 p.m. ET, and the game is on ESPN.
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: North Carolina outfielder Carter French (18) runs to first during an NCAA baseball College World Series game against West Virginia, Sunday, June 14, 2026 in Omaha, Neb. North Carolina won 5-2. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
