OMAHA, Neb. – UNC took advantage of late miscues by WVU.
Gavin Gallaher had a two-run triple in the seventh following a pair of errors as No. 5 North Carolina defeated No. 16 West Virginia 5-2 in front of 24,414 fans on Sunday evening in Game 6 of the 2026 College World Series at Charles Schwab Field.
“What an atmosphere,” UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. “This is such a special place. I was just thinking about that the whole game. The seats were full. Beautiful night. We talk about it’s an honor and a privilege to wear the Carolina uniform, but it’s also an honor and a privilege to be here playing in the College World Series. It’s such a special place.”
The Tar Heels (52-12-1) advance to the first bracket final game on Wednesday, June 17 at 1 p.m. CT. The Mountaineers (46-16) will meet Troy in an elimination game on Tuesday at 1 p.m. CT.
The game was tied 2-2 in the middle of the seventh. Colin Hynek hit a grounder to third and reached on an error to start the inning. He was erased at second on Carter French’s sacrifice attempt on a strong throw by catcher Gavin Kelly. Jake Schaffner grounded to second and reached on an error, moving French to second.
Gallaher hit a liner to right center that he turned into a triple, knocking in French and Schaffner to give UNC a 4-2 edge.
“I just try to keep everything the same,” Gallaher said, “stick with the routine and trust my preparation. That’s what can really keep you grounded. And it also helps having [Coach Forbes] down at third base, just to look down there and he’s always got a smile on his face. Kind of takes a little bit of weight off your shoulders. But just in there trying to have a good team at-bat.”
Owen Hull singled to plate Gallaher, making it 5-2.
UNC starter Ryan Lynch worked 4.2 innings and departed with the score tied at 2-2. He allowed five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Walker McDuffie (9-3) pitched 3.2 scoreless innings for the Tar Heels with three hits and two walks along with four strikeouts. He gave up a walk and a hit with one away in the top of the ninth. UNC went to the bullpen again to bring in Caden Glauber. Glauber struck out Ben Lumsden for the second out. Tyrus Hall swung through two 97 mph fastballs and looked at a third to end the contest, giving Glauber his fifth save.
UNC put up a crooked number in the bottom of the first. Schaffner had a leadoff single and was erased at second on a fielder’s choice by Gallaher. Hull singled and Macon Winslow was plunked to load the bases. Erik Paulsen walked to bring in Gallaher and Cooper Nicholson grounded out to the pitcher to knock in Hull, giving the Tar Heels a 2-0 edge.
WVU got one back in the third as Ben Lumsden had a leadoff single and scored on a one-out base hit by Armani Guzman to make it 2-1. The Mountaineers had a chance for a bigger inning. Gavin Kelly had a base hit that moved Guzman to second. Guzman and Kelly attempted a double steal. Hynek threw to third and Guzman was called safe, which would have put two in scoring position with one away. Third baseman Nicholson immediately signaled to the dugout to challenge the call. UNC did challenge and the call was reversed. Lynch got a strikeout looking to end the threat.
“He had his foot on the front of the bag,” Guzman said of the play at third. “The catcher made a really good throw. I thought I got a good jump as well. But it was a bang-bang play. And when I asked the umpire after about the review, he said they review everything, and they ended up calling me out.”
The Mountaineers tied it an inning later as Sean Smith earned a leadoff walk and scored on a double play, leveling the score at 2-2.
Maxx Yehl had a strong start for the Mountaineers. He rebounded from giving up two in the first to put up five straight zeroes before the Tar Heels tallied three unearned runs in the seventh. Yehl scattered eight hits, walked one and struck out seven.
“Felt really good in the first,” Yehl said. “Felt I was executing my pitches. They were hitting ground balls in spots we weren’t at. So it was out of my control, out of everyone’s control. It just happens. So it’s just going out there, feeling good and trying to replicate that. The next inning was my mentality.”
Guzman finished with two hits, one walk and one RBI.
Gallaher scored twice and knocked in two, while Hull and French both had two hits.
“Our guys have been in this situation before,” WVU head coach Steve Sabins said, “similar to the regional where we lost the second game of the regional and were able to scratch back and claw back into this thing.”
Notes
- UNC is 2-0 in the CWS for the second time in 13 trips to Omaha and the first since 2006.
- The Tar Heels recorded their 52nd win, tying with Georgia and UCLA for the most wins in the nation.
- UNC improved to 10-2 against WVU, including 3-0 in NCAA tourney play.
- The Tar Heels are 19-0 when scoring multiple runs in the first inning this season.
- Jake Schaffner extended his team-leading on-base streak to 26 games.
- Gavin Gallaher extended his hitting streak to 11 games and on-base streak to 23 games.
- Owen Hull extended his hitting streak to 10 games and on-base streak to 18 games.
- UNC is 27-0 when Caden Glauber pitches this season.