“I just missed the 3-1 pitch, and I was looking at the 3-2 just to make sure to make sure I did my job to get [Kyle] Seager over [to third base],” Flack said following his third career game-clinching postseason homerun. “And he just happened to leave one over the plate for me.”
With the Tar Heels trailing the Bulldogs 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Seager (1-4, one run) doubled to right field to put the tying run in scoring position. Flack (2-3, two runs, two RBI) was initially instructed to bunt his teammate to third for a sacrifice fly opportunity, but after his first bunt fouled off left, the senior third baseman was given to green light to swing away.
“We liked the matchup we had [against Flack],” Fresno St. head coach Mike Batesole said. “I thought [Miller] made a good pitch – he threw a 3-2 slider, which is what he does. Give Flack credit, because he got into it pretty good.”
The Forest City, N.C. product hit a walk-off two-run shot in the ninth inning against Alabama in the 2006 Super Regional, and followed that with a go-ahead two-run homer against South Carolina in the seventh in the decisive game of the 2007 Super Regional. Flack’s 42 career homers rank third in school history, and his 212 RBI are two off the school record of 214.
“I don’t really know what to say – I know Chad Flack is the clutchest player that I’ll ever be fortunate enough to coach,” UNC head coach Mike Fox said.
Also for the second game in a row, Alex White’s heroics on the mound were overshadowed by late-inning homeruns. The sophomore entered the contest with the bases loaded and one out for the second straight night, and got out of both jams unscathed. This time, White struck out Hedstrom and Wetzel with fast baseballs reaching the mid-90s on the speed gun.
The Bulldogs were limited to seven total hits on the night, compared to eight for the Tar Heels.
The Greenville, N.C. native was dominant in 2 2/3 innings, striking out five while allowing no hits and no runs in recording his third win of this College World Series, tying eight other pitchers for the most in one CWS. In 9 2/3 career innings out of the bullpen, White has 12 strikeouts while giving up only three hits and no runs.
“Our pitching tonight was the story of the game…,” Fox said. “I think Alex found himself a new role, perhaps, the last couple of nights.”
Freshman Matt Harvey pitched five strong innings for the Tar Heels, allowing five hits and three earned runs – one on a Steve Susdorf 1st-inning RBI single and the other two on a 4th-inning Tommy Mendonca homerun to right field.
Rob Wooten (two hits, no runs in 1.1 innings) and Brian Moran (threw just two pitches) also contributed to the pitching effort for UNC.
Seth Williams (1-3, RBI) put North Carolina on the scoreboard with a RBI single in the bottom of the fourth, and Dustin Ackley (2-4, RBI) hit into a fielder’s choice in the same inning to score Garrett Gore (1-3, one run), pulling the Tar Heels to within 3-2.
“It was a great win for us,” Fox said. “I keep saying it and I feel like I’m dreaming, but I’m glad we’re here for another day.”
North Carolina will serve as the home team against Fresno State on Sunday night at 7 p.m. EST (ESPN Classic). The winner moves on the NCAA championship series on Monday night.
The Bulldogs are expected to start Clayton Allison (3-5, 4.07 ERA), while the Tar Heels will go with Adam Warren (9-2, 4.32 ERA) on the mound.