The North Carolina Tar Heels advanced to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., for the 10th time and the sixth time in the last eight years with a 5-4 comeback win over South Carolina. The Heels play rival N.C. State at 3 p.m. Sunday.
Here’s what they’re saying about the game.
SC coach Chad Holbrook (who played and coached at UNC)
“I felt like the game was there for us to win, and we didn’t make some plays that we normally make and do some things that we normally do. You’ve got to credit North Carolina. They got a big home run there in the second (by Brian Holberton) and pushed across three there in the sixth, and that opened the gates there for them a little bit.”
UNC coach Mike Fox
“I’m just very happy for these guys. Cody Stubbs, especially, one of our seniors who transferred here. I’m happy for all of them, but he always told me all he ever wanted to do was play in Omaha. He’s a senior, so he gets an opportunity to do that. It’s a special time for us and our program, and I’m proud of all these guys.”
UNC reliever Trent Thornton (on Chaz Frank dropping a pop fly allowing SC to go ahead 3-2)
“It kind of sucked. But we knew, the whole team, we haven’t given up all year and I knew that wasn’t going to be the deciding factor in this game. We all had (Frank’s) back.”
UNC’s Colin Moran (who led the Tar Heels from behind with a run-scoring triple in the sixth)
“I don’t think anyone really thought it was slipping away. I really didn’t want that play by (Frank) to decide the game. Knowing that it was the last home game for him and all the seniors, the last thing I wanted was something like that to be the last memory.”
News & Observer reporter Andrew Carter
“UNC’s path to Omaha… was more difficult than it was in 2008, 2009 and 2011, when they didn’t lose any of their six games in Super Regionals, and won all of them by at least two runs.”
ACC Pitcher of the Year Kent Emanuel (who got his first save of the year)
“I remember freshman year when we won the second game of Supers, all the freshmen, we were talking about to each other – it seemed a little too easy, it seemed like it happened real quick. Definitely not the case this year. This year we had some just incredible games.”