In a pitcher’s duel between UNC first-year pitcher Jason DeCaro and WVU’s Tyler Switalski, the No. 4 North Carolina Diamond Heels (47-14) advanced to the College World Series with a 2-1 win over the West Virginia Mountaineers (36-24) on Saturday night in the Chapel Hill Super Regional.
“The look on everybody's faces and our coaches’ faces after that last out, it was priceless,” junior center fielder Vance Honeycutt.
On the first pitch of the game, Honeycutt picked up right where he left off, smashing a solo shot to left field to give UNC the early 1-0 lead and breaking his own North Carolina record for most single season home runs with 26. However, WVU pitcher Tyler Switalski retired the next three Tar Heel batters following the home run.
After holding the West Virginia offense dormant in the bottom of the first, the Tar Heels went 1-2-3 in the top of the second inning. In the bottom of the frame, first-year pitcher Jason DeCaro gave up a single to right field with one out, but struck out both Kyle West and Ben Lumsden to end the inning.
With two outs in the top of the third, Honeycutt singled with a bunt back to Switalski. Redshirt sophomore left fielder Casey Cook then singled through the middle to put runners on the corners for the Tar Heels. Then, senior first baseman Parks Harber singled through the left side to bring Honeycutt home and extend the North Carolina lead to two before graduate right fielder Anthony Donofrio grounded out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the frame, the Mountaineers were unable to respond, as DeCaro retired the side in order. However, the Tar Heels went three up, three down in the top of the fourth inning with UNC maintaining a 2-0 lead.
After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth, Honeycutt turned a double play as Reed Chumley flew out and threw Sam White out at first with a pinpoint throw from center field. While the Tar Heels were unable to get anything going in the top of the fifth, DeCaro continued to stifle the West Virginia offense, retiring the side in order in the bottom half of the frame.
The pitcher’s duel continued into the sixth inning as Switalski retired the North Carolina side in order. DeCaro responded in the bottom of the sixth as the Mountaineers went three up, three down as the Tar Heels held on to a 2-0 lead.
“It didn't surprise me. He's a special, special kid, ultra competitive,” head coach Scott Forbes said about DeCaro’s performance. “Here's a kid that gave up his senior year in high school, trusted us and his family. We thought doing that would give us a better chance to get him here, and little do we know that he will get even more draft attention because he pitched so well.”
