Watch: Vance Honeycutt leads UNC to 8-6 win over West Virginia in super regionals behind walk-off home run
After coming up clutch throughout the season, North Carolina's Vance Honeycutt did it yet again. The stud hitter nailed a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Tar Heels an 8-6 win in Game 1 of their super regional series against the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Despite looking like the stronger team on paper going into today's matchup, UNC still took a little longer than they would probably have liked to defeat WVU. That is, until Honeycutt had something to say with his mammoth blast to end the game.
UNC defends home field until last at-bat
Well, second to last at-bat anyway. Each time the Mountaineers would put up a fight, the Tar Heels responded in kind. Fortified by starting pitcher Shea Sprague's five-inning, four-earned run appearance that kept them in the game, North Carolina's offense eventually found their way.
Honeycutt was 2-for-5 with the game-winning two-run homer, but he wasn't the only standout at the plate for UNC. First baseman Parks Harber also knocked in a couple of runs for North Carolina, while catcher Luke Stevenson and shortstop Colby Wilkerson also hit a solo home run each.
Sprague's performance was just the beginning on the mound for UNC. The team also received an excellent three-inning, no-earned-run effort from Matt Poston out of the bullpen. The reliever helped keep the Mountaineers at bay until his squad could mount a come-from-behind win in the last half inning.
West Virginia did not go down without a fight
Following a back-and-forth game in which the lead changed hands multiple times, Honeycutt's blast sent the majority of those in Chapel Hill home happy. However, the nature of this game shows that West Virginia was not going to go down without a fight.
Offensively, the Mountaineers bashed three dingers of their own, two from designated hitter Kyle West, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs on the night. Third baseman Reed Chumley also contributed with a two-run homer, while shortstop JJ Wetherholt reached base twice.
Mountaineers ace Derek Clark also pitched well enough until the final frame, giving up seven earned runs (two in the last inning) on 8.1 innings pitched. However, once Honeycutt stepped to the plate, it was only a matter of time. Now, the Tar Heels are one win away from punching another ticket to Omaha.