Baseball players celebrating on the field after a ninth-inning win, with scoreboard showing UNC 4, USC 3.
Baseball players celebrating on the field after a ninth-inning win, with scoreboard showing UNC 4, USC 3.

Sports By June

A ninth-inning comeback sealed the trip to Omaha, useful context for a fellow college baseball fan following the season's final stretch.

UNC storms back to reach CWS Story flow and key facts

The North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team advanced to the 2026 College World Series with a 4-3 victory over the USC Trojans in Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional. After dropping the series opener, UNC bounced back with a 4-0 win in Game 2 and completed the comeback in the decisive Game 3. USC took an early 3-1 lead with home runs from Kevin Takeuchi and Andrew Lamb, but North Carolina chipped away with a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to seal the win. The Tar Heels, seeded No. 5 nationally, improve to 48-11-1 and head to Omaha for their 13th CWS appearance. USC finishes their season at 47-16 after a strong run through the College Station Regional. The College World Series begins June 12 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

Facts

  • North Carolina defeated USC 4-3 in Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional on June 7, 2026.
  • UNC scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to complete the comeback after trailing 3-1.
  • The win marks UNC's 13th appearance in the College World Series, with the last in 2024.
  • USC took a 3-1 lead with home runs from Kevin Takeuchi in the 4th and Andrew Lamb in the 5th.
  • The 2026 College World Series begins June 12 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

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