Ad Disclosure
North Carolina powers past LSU with 2-HR night from Vance Honeycutt
By Paul Harvey
Published:
North Carolina and LSU squared off in a highly anticipated winner’s bracket matchup in the Chapel Hill Regional. That showdown between the defending national champions and the No. 4 overall seed this season lived up to the hype.
The game was tight the entire way, but it was the Tar Heels who eventually came away with a 6-2 win over the Tigers. LSU had closed the gap to 3-2 entering the bottom of the 7th inning, but UNC came up with the timely hitting and clutch pitching to keep the Tigers at bay the rest of the way.
With the win, UNC moves into Sunday’s regional finals after a 2-0 start to the Chapel Hill Regional. The Tar Heels have faced drama in each game but were up to the task at every turn and now need just 1 win in 2 chances to reach the Super Regionals.
As for LSU, the defending champs are on the ropes and will head to a Sunday afternoon do-or-die elimination game against Wofford. The Tigers beat Wofford in the regional opener but needed a walk-off home run to capture that game 4-3.
LSU’s elimination game on Sunday is set for 12 pm ET. The winner of LSU vs. Wofford will advance to face UNC in a 6 pm showdown Sunday evening. (Should UNC lose in the Sunday evening game, an “if necessary” winner-take-all matchup would come on Monday.)
Bet $10, Get $150 States: AZ, CO, DC, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, PA, VA, WV /// First Bet Bonus Up to $1500: IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, NV, NY, OH, TN, WY
Turning point in the game
The highly anticipated showdown Saturday night opened with 4 scoreless frames for each team. Then, in the top of the 5th, LSU mounted a threat to start the inning. A lead-off walk by Alex Milazzo and a 1-out single by Michael Braswell led UNC to go to the bullpen with Tommy White stepping to the plate.
Starter Shea Sprague was lifted in favor of Ben Peterson. While White is the guy LSU wants at the plate with 2 runners on and 1 out, he was unable to deliver. Peterson induced an inning-ending double play from White as UNC escaped the jam unscathed.
That missed opportunity would immediately loom large for the Tigers in the bottom of the 5th inning. UNC was able to get 2 runners on with 1 out after a single and a double, bringing Vance Honeycutt to the plate with 2 runners in scoring position.
He delivered with a towering home run — the 60th of his career — to give the Tar Heels an early 3-0 lead:
Over the netting for career home run 6⃣0⃣ and the lead! pic.twitter.com/EtEGIQSq6o
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 1, 2024
Honeycutt’s clutch hitting was not done yet. After LSU cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the 7th, Honeycutt drilled a solo home run to a similar location for his 2nd blast of the night, making it 4-2 before UNC would tack on insurance in the 8th.
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 1, 2024
RELATED: LSU is down but not out of the Chapel Hill Regional just yet. Be sure to track the latest odds and trends for the rest of LSU’s postseason with SDS’s Louisiana sportsbook apps.
Keys to the game
It goes without saying, but Honeycutt was the star offensively for the Tar Heels. He finished the game 2-for-4 with 4 big-time RBI in the win. Gavin Gallaher, the hero of Friday’s regional opener, also tacked on a key insurance run with an RBI knock late in the game.
Dalton Pence was also a key contributor on the mound for the Tar Heels. While the trio of Sprague, Peterson and Pence did well to limit the Tigers to 2 runs, it was Pence who covered the final 2.2 innings late in the game without allowing a hit and getting out of a big-time jam in the 7th inning.
For LSU, starting pitcher Luke Holman deserves recognition for his efforts after striking out 11 batters in 6.2 innings. He did surrender the 2 home runs to Honeycutt, but Holman was otherwise fantastic in limiting the rest of the Tar Heels.
The other key in this game boils down to LSU’s middle of the order and an inability to get production from those spots. Jared Jones, Josh Pearson, Hayden Travinski, Steven Milam and Ashton Larson combined to go just 1-for-14 with 4 walks. In fact, the 2 RBI for LSU in the game came on bases-loaded walks.
If the Tigers want to get back to a rematch against UNC, they will need more production from those spots facing elimination against Wofford.
21+ only. NC only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov.
CLAIM OFFER
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
