West Virginia Errors Open Door in 5-2 Loss to North Carolina — College World Series Bracket
West Virginia’s college world series bracket path tightened Sunday night in Omaha. Two seventh-inning errors turned a 2-all game into a 5-2 loss to North Carolina at Charles Schwab Field.
The Mountaineers now have to beat Troy on Tuesday to get another shot at the No. 5 national seed. One more defeat ends the run that began with a 46-16 season and a 6-5 win over Kentucky in 10 innings in the Morgantown Regional.
Charles Schwab Field turns in the seventh
Gavin Gallaher’s two-run triple broke the tie in the seventh after West Virginia’s mistakes opened the door. Neither team scored after that inning, so the damage held up through the finish.
West Virginia had been in position through six innings. Matt Ineich then hit into his second 4-6-3 double play in as many at bats in the sixth, and the Mountaineers could not recover once North Carolina added the three unearned runs.
Sabins backs his defense
Steve Sabins did not frame the loss as a collapse of effort. “Over the course of 62 games, that stuff happens,” the second-year WVU coach said after the game, and he added, “I feel very confident that any mistakes that are made are made because mistakes happen in baseball, not necessarily the moment or the situation.”
He also defended the group behind the ball. “I think we have the best fielding percentage in our league,” Sabins said. “Tyrus is one of the best defenders in the nation.”
Tyrus Hall kept it shorter when asked about his error. “I just missed it. It happens.” Brodie Kresser, who also was involved in the inning, said, “It is what it is. Have to flush it.”
Tuesday at stake for West Virginia
The loss leaves West Virginia needing a win over Troy on Tuesday to stay alive and earn another crack at North Carolina. That is the immediate line between a longer stay in Omaha and the end of a season that already included a program-record 46 victories and one of the West Virginia’s two Super Regional appearances.
North Carolina is now one victory from a spot in the Men’s College World Series Finals, while West Virginia has to answer the inning that changed everything.
