Like Friday’s super regional opener, Saturday’s matchup between No. 5 UNC baseball and Arizona featured plenty of offensive fireworks — but this time, it was far less one-sided.
The Wildcats used a four-run seventh inning to respond to Carolina’s own offensive onslaught and win 10-8 on Saturday, forcing a winner-take-all game Sunday that will send the victor to the College World Series. The Diamond Heels gave up a season high of runs and hits (16), as starter Jason DeCaro worked only 3 2/3 innings while allowing four runs.
FINAL FROM CHAPEL HILL@ArizonaBaseball 10North Carolina 8
Presented by @soldier_sports pic.twitter.com/n7WlIHzvqx
— D1Baseball (@d1baseball) June 7, 2025
Similar to last week’s Game 1 regional final loss against Oklahoma, UNC could not overcome their mistakes that Arizona capitalized on. Missed opportunities with runners on base, fielding mistakes, base-running miscues — no one moment defined the game, but the Wildcats took advantage of nearly every one. That included in the top of the first inning, as the Diamond Heels worked Zona starting pitcher Raul Garayzar up to 30 pitches and loaded the bases only to leave the inning empty-handed. After Arizona scored in the bottom of the frame, Carolina designated hitter Sam Angelo struck again — hitting his second home run in two days and his fourth of the postseason to put the Heels up 2-1. Despite the Wildcats quickly responded with a string of singles to plate another run, UNC jumped ahead against in the fourth inning with runs driven in by Luke Stevenson and Gavin Gallaher. But mistakes by DeCaro and Gallaher got Arizona right back in it. First baseman Tommy Splaine blasted a solo shot to left field on a 3-2 fastball by DeCaro, with Carolina’s starter then allowing another pair of hits before getting pulled. On UNC’s Aidan Haugh’s first pitch, Arizona’s Aaron Walton chopped a swinging bunt toward Gallaher at third — who failed to bare-hand the ball as the runner scored to tie the game. Those two runs by the Wildcats came with two outs, as did their next two. Arizona tacked on a run in both the fifth and sixth innings, with the latter being from a baserunner who advanced due to Tyson Bass’ fielding error in right field off a single. The grad student made up for the mistake with a mammoth, three-run shot over the left field wall in his next at-bat to push Carolina into the lead, 7-6, and send Tar Heel fans into a frenzy in the stands. Angelo and Carter French singled before Kane Kepley earned a base after getting hit by a pitch. Jackson Van de Brake then drew his fourth walk of the day to walk in a run and bring it to 8-6 before Luke Stevenson struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning. Once again, though, the lead was short-lived. Freshman reliever Walker McDuffie came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh. After giving up two singles, a double into left field by the Wildcats clawed one run back — and Stevenson struggled to catch a low slider in the dirt, with the Zona baserunner scrambling home to tie the score. With McDuffie walking two batters to load the bases before being relieved, Arizona’s Maddox Mihalakis knocked Folger Boaz’s first pitch in relief to right field and retook the lead, 10-8. In response, a late response in the eighth inning was struck by Alex Madera — who singled to center — and Bass, who drew a walk. Angelo could not replicate his early heroics, striking out to get Arizona closer Tony Pluta out of the jam. And despite Carter French singling to get on base on the ninth inning, quick ground outs and a fly out by Stevenson ended the game.
Featured photo via UNC Athletics Communications / Diamond Heels on X.
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Arizona Battles Back vs. No. 5 UNC Baseball in Super Regional; Heels Lose 10-8 Chapelboro.com.
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