Cooper Nicholson Discusses UNC’s Strong Start in College World Series

After North Carolina's victory over West Virginia, which ended with a score of 5-2, third baseman Cooper Nicholson shared his thoughts with reporters at Charles Schwab Field. This win propelled the Tar Heels into the national semifinals of the College World Series taking place in Omaha.

Nicholson had a modest performance at the plate, going 1-for-4 with an RBI groundout in the opening inning. Reflecting on the team's 2-0 record in the tournament, he remarked, “It’s surreal, honestly. If you would have told me August 17 in the first player’s meeting that we’d be 2-0 in Omaha, I would have never believed you. So, I just… it’s surreal.”

Regarding his approach to hitting as the game progressed, he noted, “It was just getting deep in the counts and see that off speed, see the fastball, and just try to get our A swings off. Early in the game, we didn’t really get our A swings off. Coach Wierz came up to us guys, was like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get some better swings off.’ I think that’s what really set the tone for us.”

Nicholson also praised teammate Carter French, stating, “(Carter French) just going out there having fun. He knows it’s his last go ’round. He’s just out there having fun. You can tell his at-bats are phenomenal. I mean, he’s just a great guy.”

The Tar Heels' impressive start in the College World Series has generated excitement among fans and players alike as they continue their quest for the national title.