North Carolina walked off Virginia, 3-2, on Vance Honeycutt’s two-out, line-drive single into left field to score Jackson Van De Brake in the opening game of the College World Series.
Who else would be expected to get that hit?
Honeycutt, the junior center fielder, delivered the walk-off home run in UNC’s regional-opening win against Long Island. He’s the best player in the country, according to North Carolina coach Scott Forbes.
Virginia elected to pitch to Honeycutt with first and second base open after Van De Brake, a pinch-hitter, doubled against reliever Chase Hungate to open the bottom of the ninth. Alex Madera bunted Van De Brake to third base, and Hungate got Colby Wilkerson a pop-up to catcher Jacob Ference for the second out.
The Tar Heels will play on Sunday against the winner of the Florida State-Tennessee game set for tonight.
