Tar Heels Fall to USC in Game 1 of Super Regional

On June 5, 2026, at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the USC Trojans rallied late to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 9-5 in the opening game of the Chapel Hill Super Regional. This defeat places the Tar Heels in a precarious position as they face elimination in the NCAA Tournament.

Carolina initially took control of the game, jumping to a 2-0 advantage in the second inning, thanks to Jake Schaffner's RBI single and a sacrifice fly from Gavin Gallaher. After Andrew Lamb hit a leadoff home run for USC in the third, Carolina responded with two more runs in the bottom of the inning, extending their lead to 4-1 with an RBI double from Erik Paulsen and a run scored on an error. Colin Hynek added to the tally with a two-out double in the fifth, pushing the score to 5-1.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the sixth inning when USC's offense ignited, beginning with three consecutive hits. Kevin Takeuchi's bloop single brought in one run, and after two quick outs, pitcher Ryan Lynch was replaced by Walker McDuffie. McDuffie walked Lamb, loading the bases, and Dean Carpentier capitalized on the opportunity by hitting a grand slam, marking a turning point in the game as USC took a 6-5 lead.

The Trojans continued to build on their success, scoring three additional runs in the seventh inning through a groundout, a fielder’s choice, and a squeeze play. Meanwhile, Carolina's offense fell flat, with the Tar Heels going down in order during the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Schaffner's single in the ninth was quickly erased by a double play, and Macon Winslow's flyout ended the game.

This loss ended Carolina's remarkable streak of 44 consecutive victories when leading by multiple runs, a run that dated back to last season’s Super Regional against Arizona. USC’s Chase Herrell earned the victory after pitching two innings, allowing one earned run, while Andrew Johnson secured a save with 3.2 scoreless innings. Lynch recorded 5.2 innings pitched for Carolina, giving up four earned runs, while McDuffie was charged with the loss.

Game 2 of the Super Regional is set to take place on Saturday at 2:00 PM ET, with live coverage on ESPN.