Chapel Hill, NC – The Boshamer Stadium faithful watched in stunned silence Sunday afternoon, June 8, 2025, as the No. 5-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels (46-15) fell 4-3 to the Arizona Wildcats (44-19) in a dramatic Game 3 of the NCAA Chapel Hill Super Regional. Leading 3-1 entering the eighth inning, UNC’s season unraveled with consecutive errors, allowing Arizona to score three runs and secure a spot in the College World Series. The gut-wrenching loss ends the Tar Heels’ bid for a second straight Omaha trip and marks a stunning conclusion to a 46-15 campaign that promised so much.
A Tense Opening Sets the Stage
The decisive game began with both teams trading early blows, setting a tone of intensity that gripped Boshamer Stadium from the first pitch. Arizona struck first in the top of the second, as shortstop Garen Caulfield launched a solo homer down the left-field line, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. The Tar Heels, however, responded with authority in the bottom of the third. Leadoff hitter Kane Kepley reached on a single, and Carter French followed with a walk. With two outs, Jackson Van De Brake delivered a three-run blast to left, his second homer of the postseason, swinging the score to 3-1 in UNC’s favor.
Freshman starting pitcher Ryan Lynch, settled in after the early run, retiring nine of the next ten batters. His poise kept Arizona’s potent lineup—fresh off a 10-8 Game 2 comeback—at bay, and the Tar Heels’ lead held through six innings.
Eighth-Inning Collapse Seals Fate
The eighth inning turned out to be the Tar Heels’ downfall. With UNC holding a 3-1 lead, Arizona launched a rally that revealed critical defensive errors. With Andrew Cain on first in the top of the eighth, Arizona’s Tommy Splaine hit a ground ball toward Van De Brake at second base. As Van De Brake attempted to scoop the ball, it took an unexpected bounce, slipping behind him. This allowed Cain to advance to second while Splaine reached first safely.
Easton Breyfogle then stepped up, successfully laying down a bunt along the third base line to move Splaine to third. Gallaher managed to field the ball but his throw to first sailed just over Van De Brake’s glove, resulting in a collision. The ball ricocheted past Van De Brake, allowing Cain to dash home. With the bases now loaded after Brendan Summerhill walked during the next at-bat, Arizona capitalized, recording their first out before White delivered a single that brought in two more runs.
Arizona’s bullpen, led by closer Tony Pluta, sealed the deal. Pluta, who threw a career-high 52 pitches in Game 2, retired the side in order in the eighth and stranded two runners in the ninth, including a tense at-bat against Van De Brake that ended with a popup. The Wildcats’ resilience, forged through a 10-8 comeback Saturday, carried them to victory.
Offensive Struggles in the Clutch
UNC’s offense, which torched Arizona for 18 runs in Game 1, struggled to find its rhythm Sunday. The Tar Heels managed just five hits, with Van De Brake’s three-run homer accounting for all their scoring. Gallaher, the Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player with a .722 average, went 0-for-3, snapping a nine-game hitting streak. Kepley and French reached base but couldn’t capitalize, as UNC went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Arizona’s pitching staff, adjusting after Friday’s 18-2 drubbing, kept UNC’s lineup off balance. Starter Smith Bailey, a freshman with a 2.08 ERA over his last three starts, allowed three runs over six innings, while Pluta’s late-game heroics preserved the lead. The Wildcats’ strategy—mixing fastballs and breaking balls—neutralized a batting order that had averaged 7.2 runs per game in the postseason.
Wildcats’ Grit Prevails
Arizona’s journey to Omaha was a testament to resilience. Facing elimination after an 18-2 Game 1 loss, the Wildcats rallied for 10 runs in Game 2 and capitalized on UNC’s errors Sunday. Caulfield (2-for-4, 1 RBI) and White (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) led the offense, while Breyfogle’s bunt single sparked the decisive rally. The Wildcats’ 44-19 record, including a 15-10 road mark, reflected a team built for late-season drama.
Defensively, Arizona turned a double play in the sixth, and Splaine’s diving stop in Game 2 proved their mettle. The Wildcats’ fourth winner-take-all Super Regional victory (previous wins in 2004 and 2021) earned them a 19th College World Series trip, their first since 2021.
A Season of Promise Unfulfilled
UNC’s 2025 campaign was a story of near-perfection. With 12 College World Series appearances and 22 Super Regional berths since 2006, the Tar Heels under coach Scott Forbes since 2021 had reached the NCAA Tournament annually, including a 2024 Omaha trip. Their 46-15 record, anchored by an ACC Tournament title and a 22-8 conference mark, suggested a team destined for greatness.
Gallaher’s postseason heroics (.667 series average) and Van De Brake’s clutch hitting (two homers) highlighted a roster brimming with talent. Yet, the season ended with a 4-3 whimper/
The Road to Omaha Slips Away
Sunday’s Game 3 loss capped a rollercoaster series. UNC’s 18-2 Game 1 rout gave way to a 10-8 Game 2 collapse, and the finale’s 4-3 defeat underscored a team undone by its own miscues. Arizona advances to face No. 13 Coastal Carolina in Omaha, while UNC’s season ends at 46-15.