Full Breakdown
UNC Secures College World Series Spot with Owen Hull’s Walk-Off
6/8/2026, 1:56:15 PM
Walk-Off Victory Sends Tar Heels to Omaha
On June 7, 2026, North Carolina defeated USC 4-3 in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional. Junior outfielder Owen Hull delivered the decisive hit in the bottom of the ninth after the Tar Heels trailed 3-2, driving in senior Carter French for the winning run and clinching a berth in the College World Series.
Path to the Super Regional
UNC entered the super regional as the No. 5 overall seed after sweeping its regional and posting a 48-11-1 (22-8 ACC) regular-season record. After dropping Game 1 to USC, the Tar Heels won Game 2 4-0 and then secured the series in Game 3.
Standout Performers
- Owen Hull – went 4-for-5, recorded four doubles (per News Observer) and delivered the walk-off RBI.
- Caden Glauber – freshman right-hander who struck out 11 batters in 7.1 innings, the most by a UNC pitcher in an NCAA tournament game since 2011.
- Scott Forbes – head coach who emphasized a “next-play” mindset.
- Andrew Johnson – USC starter who logged 7.2 innings, 2 ER on 99 pitches; total 133 pitches across the series.
Game Numbers
UNC finished the season 50-12-1, its first 50-win campaign since 2013 and the ninth CWS appearance in the past 20 years (tied for most in that span). Hull’s line featured four doubles and two RBIs; Glauber’s 11 strikeouts set a program tournament record. Johnson’s 133 pitches underscored USC’s heavy workload.
Official Comments
Coach Scott Forbes told Hull to “just put a good swing on it” after a timeout. USC coach Andy Stankiewicz praised Johnson’s “fighter’s attitude.” Glauber described his start as “obviously a little nervous… good nerves” and expressed excitement to pitch for UNC.
Discrepancies in Reporting
The walk-off is called a double in the News Observer, but Chapelboro’s introduction labels it a single. Chapelboro reports three doubles before the final hit, while the News Observer credits Hull with four.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He can’t tell you he feels great, because he’s pitched a lot. But it didn’t matter to him.” — Andy Stankiewicz, USC Head Coach
- “I’m out here having as much fun as I can… I love this team so much.” — Owen Hull, UNC Junior Outfielder
- “Just said, ‘Hey man, if you get something close, just put a good swing on it’ …” — Scott Forbes, UNC Head Coach
- “No matter what, this is my last time playing baseball with this group,” — Carter French, UNC Senior Outfielder
Looking Ahead
UNC will open its College World Series against Ole Miss on Friday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, aiming to build on its late-game resilience.
