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UNC baseball vs Tennessee live score, updates, highlights from College World Series matchup

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In its first game of the 2024 College World Series, North Carolina baseball earned a dramatic, walk-off victory against ACC foe Virginia in the opening game of the event.

In their second game, the Tar Heels will face a different kind of challenge.

More: Buy College World Series tickets with StubHub

With a 1-0 record in the CWS, North Carolina, the No. 4 national seed, will take on No. 1 Tennessee at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska in a matchup of two of the top national championship contenders.

The Tar Heels earned a meeting with the Vols by defeating No. 12 Virginia 3-2 on Friday. The victory came from a familiar face (and bat), with Vance Honeycutt drilling a two-out, walk-off single to bring home Jackson Van De Brake from third base. The win, which improved North Carolina’s record to 48-14, marked the fourth time during the 2024 season that the Tar Heels have earned a victory in the final at-bat of a game.

REQUIRED READING: Vance Honeycutt again saves the day for UNC baseball at College World Series

Honeycutt’s heroics were made possible by a stellar appearance out of the bullpen from Dalton Pence, who earned the win after not giving up a hit or walk over 3 1/3 scoreless innings of work.

While North Carolina’s quest for a national championship got off to a strong start Friday, its dreams could become that much more of a realistic possibility with a win against Tennessee. The Vols enter the game with a 56-12 record and what’s likely the most explosive offense in the sport, with their players combining for 175 home runs this season, comfortably the highest mark in Division I.

Tennessee picked up a heart-pounding win of its own in its CWS opener, scoring four runs in the ninth inning to defeat No. 8 Florida State 12-11, a run capped off by a walk-off single from Dylan Dreiling.

Follow along here for live scores, updates, highlights and more from North Carolina baseball’s College World Series game against Tennessee:

REQUIRED READING: Vance Honeycutt MLB mock draft, scouting report for North Carolina baseball projected top-20 pick

UNC baseball vs Tennessee score

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
UNC 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
Tennessee 0 0 0 — — — — — —

UNC baseball vs Tennessee live updates, highlights

All times Eastern

8:03 p.m.: Shea Sprague goes up with a fastball and gets the call from the home plate umpire for the punch out on Billy Amick. One down.

8:02 p.m.: Pickoff move was not successful for Shea Sprague as he tried to get Blake Burke dancing at first.

8 p.m.: Shea Sprague tried to get Blake Burke chasing on an elevated fastball but Burke pokes one into left for a lead-off single. Tough break for Sprague who placed the pitch where he wanted it.

7:58 p.m.: Scott Forbes tells ESPN’s Kris Budden that he likes how Shea Sprague is in “complete control” on the mound thus far against the No. 1 national seed Volunteers.

7:56 p.m.: Tar Heels leave one on base in the inning as Anthony Donofrio chases an upstairs fastball from Drew Beam for the third out of the inning. Fifth strikeout of the night for Tar Heels hitters.

7:55 p.m.: Drew Beam attempts to pick off Parks Harber at first but Harber gets in safely before the throw gets there.

7:53 p.m.: Parks Harber records the first hit of the night for either side on a blooper into right field. First base runner of the night for the Tar Heels.

7:52 p.m.: Casey Cook strikes out for the second out of the inning. Two down.

7:51 p.m.: Vance Honeycutt attempts to lay down a bunt but Drew Beam retires him at first. Another first pitch swing and out for the Tar Heels. Beam is averaging 2.2 pitches per out. One down for UNC.

7:48 p.m.: Second 1-2-3 inning of the night for Shea Sprague as Christian Moore flies out to center for the third out. Scoreless through three innings in Omaha.

7:46 p.m.: Shea Sprague continues to deal as he picks up his third strikeout of the night. Tar Heels southpaw has mixed up his pitches nicely through the first time through the Vols lineup.

7:45 p.m.: Anthony Donofrio tracks one down in right for the first out.

7:42 p.m.: Tar Heels don’t give Shea Sprague much of a breather between innings as Colby Wilkerson strikes out of the third out. Rough start to the night for North Carolina hitters against Drew Beam who is at 21 pitches through three innings.

7:41 p.m.: Another quick out for North Carolina as Alex Madera grounds out to shortstop on the first pitch of his at-bat. Two down. Tar Heels swinging early here against Drew Beam.

7:41 p.m.: Jackson Van De Brake pops one up on the first pitch of the third inning. Not a great start to the inning for the Tar Heels.

7:37 p.m.: Nice bounce back from Shea Sprague as he gets Dean Curley to fly out to right for the final out of the inning.

7:35 p.m.: Quick easy out for the Tar Hells as Kavares Tears grounds into a fielder’s choice at second. Alex Madera retires Tears at first as Dreiling advances to second. Two down.

7:34 p.m.: Gavin Gallaher makes a nice catch at third to retire Hunter Ensley for the first out. Gallaher attempted to pull off the double play but his throw was offline. One down.

7:33 p.m.: Shea Sprague gives up a lead-off walk to Dylan Dreiling. First base runner of the night for Sprague to work against.

7:29 p.m.: Tar Heels go down 1-2-3 for the second consecutive inning as Luke Stevenson grounds out to second for the final out of the inning.

7:27 p.m.: Gavin Gallaher flies out to center for the second out. Two down.

7:26 p.m.: Anthony Donofrio lifts one deep to center but is robbed of an extra-base hit by Tennessee center fielder Hunter Ensley. One down.

7:23 p.m.: Nice start to the night for Shea Sprague as gets back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. Anthony Donofrio to lead it off for the Tar Heels in the second.

7:22 p.m.: Shea Sprague wins the battle with Blake Burke as he strikes out the Vols first baseman on the off-speed pitch. Two down for UNC.

7:16 p.m.: WOAH! Colby Wilkerson makes an incredible play from on his knees to retire Christian Moore at first base for the first out of the inning. Big time defensive play for the Tar Heels. Ball came 115 mph off the bat of Moore’s.

7:15 p.m.: Shea Sprague’s night begins with a first-pitch strike on Vols star second baseman Christian Moore, who became just the second player ever to hit for the cycle at the CWS on Friday vs. Florida State.

7:13 p.m.: Play is overturned after review. Tar Heels go down 1-2-3 in the top of the first.

7:12 p.m.: Parks Harber is called safe at first as Christian Moore’s throw pulls Blake Burke off of first. Play looks to be going to review.

7:11 p.m.: Casey Cooks strikes out swinging. Two down for UNC.

7:09 p.m.: Vance Honeycutt misses the fastball on the outside edge and strikes out looking for the first out of the night. Casey Cook is up to bat for the Tar Heels.

7:07 p.m.: And we are underway as Vance Honeycutt steps into the box. Play ball!

7 p.m.: Tar Heels looking for more magic from Vance Honeycutt tonight vs. Tennessee after his walk-off hit Friday vs. Virginia. MLB Pipeline has Honeycutt as a top-20 prospect and projected first-round pick in next month’s MLB draft.

6:57 p.m.: First pitch is just minutes away in Omaha! Tar Heels are the away team tonight vs. the Vols.

6:46 p.m.: Fun fact provided by UNC’s media notes, the Tar Heels are 2-2 all-time when playing Father’s Day with wins over Clemson (2006) and LSU (2008) and losses to Rice (2007) and NC State (2013).

6:32 p.m.: Here’s the lineup Scott Forbes is putting out Sunday night vs. Tennessee in the College World Series:

6:30 p.m.: First pitch is 30 minutes away. Tar Heels enter Sunday night’s heavyweight matchup with the Vols leading the all-time series 5-2. 

6:22 p.m.: The Tar Heels are looking to move 2-0 in the College World Series for the first time since 2006, when they finished as the national runner-up.

6:20 p.m.: Tar Heels were gifted new Air Jordan 11 lows last night at the team hotel for making it to the College World Series:

6:17 p.m.: Shea Sprague will be on the bump tonight vs. Tennessee for UNC. The Tar Heels junior left-hander is 3-1 on the season with a 4.00 ERA in 74 ⅓ innings pitch. His last start came against West Virginia in the Chapel Hill Super Regional (6/7) where he last five innings and struck out six but gave up five runs (four earned).

6:15 p.m.: Batting practice is complete at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha for the Tar Heels. First pitch 45 minutes away!

What channel is North Carolina baseball vs Tennessee?

North Carolina baseball’s game against Tennessee will air on ESPN2.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app, ESPN+ and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

UNC baseball vs Tennessee start time

  • Date: Sunday, June 16
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET

First pitch for the Tar Heels’ game against the Volunteers is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.

North Carolina baseball schedule 2024

Below is North Carolina’s postseason schedule. For the Tar Heels’ full 2024 schedule, click here.

Chapel Hill Regional

  • Friday, May 31: North Carolina 11, LIU 9
  • Saturday, June 1: North Carolina 6, LSU 2
  • Sunday, June 2: LSU 8, North Carolina 4
  • Monday, June 3: North Carolina 4, LSU 3 (10 innings)

Chapel Hill Super Regional

  • Friday, June 7: North Carolina 8, West Virginia 6
  • Saturday, June 8: North Carolina 2, West Virginia 1

College World Series

  • Friday, June 14: North Carolina 3, Virginia 2
  • Sunday, June 16: vs. Tennessee

Tennessee baseball schedule 2024

Below is Tennessee’s postseason schedule. For the Volunteers’ full 2024 schedule, click here.

Knoxville Regional

  • Friday, May 31: Tennessee 9, Northern Kentucky 3
  • Saturday, June 1: Tennessee 12, Indiana 6
  • Sunday, June 2: Tennessee 12, Southern Miss 3

Knoxville Super Regional

  • Friday, June 7: Tennessee 11, Evansville 6
  • Saturday, June 8: Evansville 10, Tennessee 8
  • Sunday, June 9: Tennessee 12, Evansville 1

College World Series

  • Friday, June 14: Tennessee 12, Florida State 11
  • Sunday, June 16: vs. North Carolina

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