Tennessee stifles North Carolina, moves within a win of CWS Finals
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Tennessee and North Carolina met in a winner’s bracket Sunday night looking for a key step forward in Omaha. This time, the Vols would need no late-inning drama and the Tar Heels would not find an offensive hero late in the game.
In a game started by UNC’s Shea Sprague, the Vols would get to the starter for 4 earned runs. The big blow in that stretch came off the bat of Kavares Tears with a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 4th inning.
.@kavares_tears23 RIPS IT OUTTA HERE #MCWS x ESPN / @Vol_Baseball pic.twitter.com/FlSWAR7jSs
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 17, 2024
Meanwhile, Drew Beam was fantastic on the mound for Tennessee. Beam would cover the first 4 innings flawlessly before facing his first serious threat in the top of the 5th. A pair of 1-out walks gave North Carolina some life before Beam delivered back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.
The key moment in the game quickly followed in the 6th inning. Vance Honeycutt led off the inning with a solo home off of Beam, and Casey Cook and Parks Harber would follow with singles to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. That led to a pitching change with the Vols calling on Kirby Connell.
Certified @HoneycuttVance homer #MCWS x ESPN2 / @DiamondHeels pic.twitter.com/tScWjjEcIz
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 17, 2024
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