USC’s College World Series hopes shattered in heartbreaking loss to North Carolina

Updated June 7, 2026, 7:20 p.m. by press room 1 min read

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.

Two outs away, and then the ultimate pain.

USC baseballs 25-year College World Series drought continued Sunday with an agonizing 4-3 loss to No.

5-seed North Carolina in Game 3 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional after the Tar Heels scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

USC (48-18) nearly forced extra innings when Owen Hull hit a 2-0 pitch into the left-field corner in foul territory, but the ball fell between three Trojans.

Hull then lined the next pitch into the gap in left-center field for a walk-off double to send the Tar Heels to Omaha in a heartbreaking, season-ending loss for USC.

The Trojans took a 3-2 lead to the bottom of the ninth and even got the first out.

USC reliever Adam Troy then walked North Carolina third baseman Cooper Nicholson before falling behind 3-0 to nine-hole hitter Carter French, leading USC coach Andy Stankiewicz to make a pitching change mid at-bat.

He went to Chase Herrell, and French lined a 3-2 single through the right side.

Jake Schaffner tied the score on a sacrifice fly.

USC failed to capitalize on a heroic start from pitcher Andrew Johnson, who gave up seven hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking two over 723 innings.

Kevin Takeuchi and Andrew Lamb hit solo home runs for the Trojans in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Trojans squandered scoring opportunities with runners in scoring position in the seventh and ninth innings.

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The USC Trojans baseball team received an extended stay in Chapel Hill.

But for the wrong reason, as they took the Game 2 loss to North Carolina 4-0, which now forces a third game to decide who moves on to Omaha.

Head coach Andy Stankiewicz raved about the grit of USC during Game 1 between the two teams, especially after erasing the 5-1 deficit to defeat the Tar Heels.

But he dropped a much different tone following this loss to UNC.

Andy Stankiewicz Vows USC Will Be Ready for Game 3 Stankiewicz revealed a good thing about the loss, saying we have tomorrow and stating how Sundays are always important.

All which led to this big statement from Stankiewicz after taking the disappointing loss: Well be ready.

We will bounce back, and well be ready to go tomorrow, Stankiewicz told reporters after the loss.

This four-run defeat becomes only the second loss for Stankiewicz and USC during these NCAA Baseball Playoffs.

Andy Stankiewicz Praised USC Grit Despite Loss The coach watched Colin Hynek set the tone for North Carolina in ripping a solo home run against his No.

2 ace pitcher, Grant Govel.

Then, later watched Erik Paulsen blast a three-run homer to help swing the game in favor of North Carolina.

Yet Stankiewicz acknowledged this USC versus UNC contest couldve gotten out of hand quick.

I thought we did a really good job of minimizing what could have been some big innings, Stankiewicz said.

I think thats what we talk about a lot.

The fact that we had some traffic (runners on base), but we made some good pitches.

We made a good ground ball double play to Kevin [Takeuchi] at third base to first.

We pitched well enough to keep ourselves close.

Still, Stankiewicz saw two of his own mound options surrender a home run.

Reliever Sax Matson allowed the three-run Paulsen blast during the sixth inning.

He acknowledged the better pitcher was UNCs Jason DeCaro.

Again, at the end of the day, it was just al about DeCaro, Stankiewicz said.

Just couldnt get to him.

USC Provides Update on Game 3 Mound Option Stankiewicz already turned to No.

1 pitcher Mason Edwards to start the Chapel Hill Regional.

His No.

2 ace Govel accepted the loss on the hill after allowing five hits, one run and the early homer.

Andrew Johnson also saw extensive action, but in Game 1, which USC won.

The latter could rise as the potential starter in the winner-take-all matchup.

Stankiewicz addressed that possibility.

Were not sure, the coach began.

But itll be everybody.

We cant go too long with too many.

But tomorrow is going to be one of those where we get everybody ready to roll.

That could mean Diego Valzaquez could see time on the hill too, as hes yet to throw against the Tar Heels.

Stankiewicz rolled with six different pitchers in the Game 2 loss, including Sax Matson, Rohan Kasanagottu and Henry Chabot.

But sounds like Stankiewicz needs all of his bullpen ready to save USCs season.

Follow The North Carolina Tar Heels have had no downtime this offseason, with developments and updates constantly revolving through the doors in Chapel Hill.

Last week, we learned of the Tar Heels home and away ACC schedule, and earlier in the offseason, a portion of their non-conference schedule was released.

Late Thursday, North Carolina was informed of another non-conference game, and its safe to say this will be another test for the program that resides in Chapel Hill.

Opponent Reveal North Carolina will host Arkansas at the Dean E.

Smith Center on Dec.

1 as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.

The Razorbacks are one of two SEC teams the Tar Heels will face this season, as they will take on Kentucky on Dec.

19 at Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic.

Significance of Matchup Stacking up as many formidable opponents during the non-conference slate is monumental for the Tar Heels, who need to solidify their rotation and chemistry before ACC play begins.

Arkansas has reached the Sweet 16 in each of John Caliparis first two seasons as head coach, and it could orchestrate a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament next season, with one of the best rosters in college basketball.

With Michael Malone entering his first year as North Carolinas head coach, it is crucial that the team develops cohesion on both ends of the floor.

While the Razorbacks have been a Sweet 16 program in each of the last two campaigns, the Tar Heels have failed to advance past the first weekend.

This is an obvious test for North Carolina, as Arkansas roster and Caliparis coaching pedigree should be a matchup Malone and this team should be excited for.

The Tar Heels could prove a lot with an impressive outing against one of the elite teams in the SEC.

Polarizing Storyline In addition to this matchup featuring two of the most prominent programs in college basketball, it will also be a reunion between Calipari and North Carolinas associate head coach Chuck Martin, who served as an assistant on Caliparis staff in Arkansas.

Martins familiarity with Caliparis scheme could become a factor in the matchup and provide the Tar Heels with important intel on the Razorbacks.

Since Calipari took over as head coach, Arkansas has tended to take time to gel, which could be another pivotal factor in how the game unfolds.

Overall, this is an opportunity for Malone and his players to prove that North Carolina should be taken seriously as a potential contender heading into conference play.

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