North Carolina wins twice, forces winner-take-all game in Chapel Hill regional

North Carolina overcame enormous odds on Sunday, winning a pair of elimination games vs. Georgia and Virginia Commonwealth.

The result is now the Tar Heels will face VCU in a winner-take-all game on Monday night.

North Carolina’s afternoon got started with a 6-5 victory over UGA, which knocked the Bulldogs out of the NCAA Tournament. The win didn’t come without dramatics — the Tar Heels needed a game-saving catch at the center field wall in the 9th inning to preserve their lead.

Here’s the play:

In the night cap, things weren’t nearly as close. North Carolina defeated VCU 19-8 thanks to an offensive explosion. Each of the top 5 batters in North Carolina’s lineup produced 2+ RBI.

Four difference UNC players hit home runs: Angel Zarate, Vance Honeycutt, Alberto Osuna and Johnny Castagnozzi. Zarate went 4-for-5 with 1 walk, 3 RBI and 4 runs scored.

North Carolina won both games on Sunday without the leadership of its manager, Scott Forbes. He was suspended for 2 games after being ejected in UNC’s loss

to VCU on Saturday.

Forbes will be eligible to return to the diamond in Monday’s winner-take-all game vs. VCU.