North Carolina Holds Off West Virginia Rally to Win 12-7 at College World Series

North Carolina defeated West Virginia 12-7 on June 17 at the College World Series in Omaha. The Tar Heels led 12-1 before the Mountaineers scored six unanswered runs. The 1-2-3 hitters in North Carolina's lineup produced 16 hits in 37 at-bats during the three games in Omaha.

Jake Schaffner, Owen Hull and Gavin Gallaher combined for 13 runs and 13 RBIs while striking out seven times. Schaffner is batting 3-for-10 with four runs, two RBIs and three walks in Omaha. Hull is 7-for-13 with five runs and four RBIs.

Gallaher is 6-for-14 with four runs and seven RBIs. Coach Scott Forbes moved Hull into the second spot in the batting order for the West Virginia game after starting Gallaher there in the first two contests. Hull and Gallaher went a combined 8-for-10 with six RBIs in that game.

Hull came within one home run of hitting for the cycle against West Virginia. Hull had four hits in Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional against USC and three hits in Game 2 when North Carolina faced elimination.

North Carolina's only loss in the NCAA Tournament came against USC in that series. "These guys know that I have their back, and you know whatever they need, and I’m lucky enough that they have mine," Gallaher said. "So when I'm up there at the plate it makes it easy on me.

We know that everybody on this team is bought in and we can trust each other. " "I don't really have a word to describe Owen Hull," Schaffner said. "He's unlike anyone I've ever seen before. " Hull told reporters he studies opposing pitchers the night before games.

"Gotta do your homework if you want to do well in school," he said. North Carolina has outscored its three Omaha opponents 23-11. The Tar Heels next face Oklahoma, which is expected to start Cord Rager and Xander Mercurius.