Back-to-back thrilling wins over West Virginia in the Chapel Hill Super Regional advanced North Carolina to the College World Series for the 12th time in program history. Defeating the Mountaineers 8-6 on Friday in walk-off fashion followed by a 2-1 win on Saturday to seal the deal for the Tar Heels.
UNC star Vance Honeycutt had his fingerprints all over the team’s historic weekend, and with the 2024 MLB Draft looking like a strong likelihood for the outfielder, he was asked about Saturday’s game potentially being the final one of his career at Boshamer Stadium ahead of team’s trip to Omaha.
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“If this is the last one, then this was an awesome game,” Honeycutt said. “So many guys in this locker room and beside me have just put us in a good spot so far this season. To see the look on everybody’s faces was priceless, it’s what we worked for since August. It’s very rewarding, yes, to see all those faces.”
Honeycutt was the hero of North Carolina’s come-from-behind Game 1 victory on Friday as the Tar Heels entered the ninth inning down 6-5 to West Virginia. With catcher Luke Stephenson hitting a solo homer to tie the game followed by a two-run, two-out walk-off home run by Honeycutt to win the game for North Carolina and send The Bosh into a frenzy.
His bat would remain hot heading into Game 2, homering on the very first pitch of the game as the leadoff batter for the Heels. Which would wind up being crucial as one of the team’s two runs in their close 2-1 World Series-clinching win. As Honeycutt would also score UNC’s other run of the game after beating out a bunt on a speedy race to first base followed by an RBI single from Parks Harber.
“I’ve been saying it since the beginning of the season; [Honeycutt] is the best player in the country,” North Carolina head coach Scott Forbes said. “He said, ‘Coach, just trust us and jump on our back,’ that’s what I’ve done.”
“He changes the game.”
The game-changer also took home the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award along with earning First-Team All-ACC honors this season. Currently sitting at 76 hits, 65 RBIs, and 26 home runs on the season with a .314 batting average. Ranked as the No. 20 prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft according to MLB.com who has surely left his mark with the North Carolina program if he does in fact declare for the draft following the Tar Heels’ magical postseason run.
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