After an offensive surge, UNC defeats CWS; another opponent ace folds.

Tar Heels Dominate Yet Another Top Pitcher, Crush Arizona 18–2 in Super Regional Opener

It’s becoming a trend: elite pitchers just can’t seem to handle top-ranked North Carolina.

After dismantling two projected top-10 MLB Draft picks — Florida State’s Jamie Arnold and Oklahoma’s Kyson Witherspoon — in May, UNC added another ace to its list Friday night. Arizona’s Owen Kramkowski, the Wildcats’ top arm, was the latest victim as the Tar Heels torched him for eight earned runs in less than two innings en route to a commanding 18–2 rout of No. 21 Arizona in the opener of the Chapel Hill Super Regional.

With the win, UNC (46–13) is now one victory away from returning to the College World Series for the second straight year. They’ll have a chance to clinch that trip in Game 2 at 12:06 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2.

UNC’s Offense Explodes

North Carolina’s offense came alive in historic fashion, recording its highest run total of the season and setting a new program record for runs in a Super Regional game.

Catcher Luke Stevenson, who had struggled through the regional, broke out with a 2-for-5 performance, including a three-run homer and four RBI. Meanwhile, Gavin Gallaher stayed red-hot, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI, pushing his already incredible postseason numbers even higher.

Batting fifth, Hunter Stokely delivered a monster game, going 3-for-5 with five RBI, including a towering three-run homer in the first inning that set the tone early.

“We’ve been having great at-bats all through the lineup,” said UNC head coach Scott Forbes. “One guy struggles, the next one picks him up. That’s what championship-level teams do.”

Jake Knapp: Not His Sharpest, Still Unbeatable

UNC ace Jake Knapp improved to 14–0, tying the program’s single-season win record (held since 1978). He allowed a season-high nine hits over seven-plus innings, but kept the Wildcats at bay, giving up just two earned runs, walking none, and striking out three.

“They’re a good offensive team and they made contact, but we had a plan,” Knapp said. “I didn’t have my best stuff, but I trusted the defense and got outs when I needed them.”

Knapp stranded the bases loaded in both the second and fourth innings. A slick double play turned by Alex Madera and Jackson Van De Brake in the second bailed him out, and Arizona could only scratch across one run in a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth.

Arizona (42–19) took a 1–0 lead in the top of the first, but Kramkowski never found a rhythm. UNC responded with eight runs in the first two innings, including Stokely’s 395-foot bomb and Stevenson’s three-run shot in the second. Kramkowski exited after just 1⅔ innings, tagged for six hits, eight earned runs, and two walks — the worst outing of his season.

Arizona tried to stem the bleeding by rotating through five relievers, including some who hadn’t pitched much lately, in an effort to save its bullpen for Saturday.

“We’ve lost Friday games before and come back to win a series,” said Arizona head coach Chip Hale. “We’re not in unfamiliar territory.”

North Carolina didn’t let up. Gallaher and Stokely added RBI singles in the fourth, Madera plated two more with a hit in the sixth, and UNC erupted for five runs in the eighth, highlighted by a three-run homer from Sam Angelo and Kane Kepley’s solo shot.

Even with the blowout, Forbes held back his best bullpen arms, turning instead to veteran lefty Tom Chmielewski, who tossed two scoreless innings to close it out.

“We had a plan for every situation, and we executed it perfectly,” Forbes said. “To still have our top bullpen guys fresh is huge going into Game 2.”

Saturday’s matchup will feature UNC sophomore Jason DeCaro (9–3, 3.50 ERA) against Arizona senior Raul Garayzar (2–0, 2.54 ERA).

UNC, which improved to 18–8 all-time in Super Regionals, will look to close out the series and punch its ticket to Omaha. The Tar Heels’ offensive outburst was their most runs in any NCAA Tournament game since beating Liberty 16–1 in 2019.

If Game 1 was any indication, this UNC team is locked in — and looking like a serious national title contender.

• Stevenson broke out after a 1-for-15 stretch in the regional.

• Gallaher continues his torrid postseason stretch, consistently beating defensive shifts.

• Arizona’s Aaron Walton made two highlight-reel diving catches in the second inning.

• Former UNC basketball coach Roy Williams and his wife Wanda were in attendance.

• Kepley was hit by a pitch for the 26th time this season and stole his 43rd base.

• UNC and Arizona are now tied 3–3 in their all-time series.

UNC fans will hope the fireworks continue Saturday as the Tar Heels go for a Super Regional sweep. One more win, and it’s back to Omaha.