Men’s College World Series: Gavin Gallaher, Colin Hynek deliver for UNC vs. Ole Miss

When Gavin Gallaher came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday night in Omaha, the UNC second baseman was still looking for his first career hit in the Men’s College World Series. Between 2024 and the first part of Friday night’s game against Ole Miss, Gallaher was 0-15 in Omaha.

But finally got a hit in Omaha, and he made that first hit count.

The UNC infielder laced a single up the middle, past the dive of shortstop Owen Paino, to bring Colin Hynek home from second and give the Tar Heels a slim 3-2 lead.

But it would be enough on Friday night in Omaha, as UNC knocked off Ole Miss by a final score of 6-2 to take their first game at the Men’s College World Series.

Both teams got tremendous outings from their starting pitchers as Ole Miss starter Taylor Rabe worked deep into the sixth inning, going 5.2 while allowing just one earned run. Jason DeCaro, who was the hero for UNC in Game 2 of the Tar Heels’ Super Regional against USC, went 6.2 innings while allowing a pair of earned runs.

But in the seventh, UNC pushed a pair of runs across to take the lead for good. After a pair of walks to open the inning, No. 9 hitter Carter French laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners over, and turn the lineup over as well.

That brought leadoff hitter Jake Schaffner to the plate, and he lofted a fly ball deep enough to right to bring Tyler Home with the tying run to knot the game at 2-2.

That set the stage for Gallaher, and that first hit in Omaha:

Gallaher went into postseason lore in Chapel Hill during the 2024 regionals, when his grand slam in the bottom of the ninth propelled UNC to a comeback win in their first game against LIU.

But this bit of heroics came in the Men’s College World Series.

Still, UNC was not done. Because in the bottom of the eighth, it was Hynek’s turn for some heroics:

The numbers on this blast certainly stand out:

Ole Miss made a little noise in the ninth, as Luke Romine led off with a single. But reliever Caden Glauber got Collin Reuter to roll into a double play, and then Glauber retired leadoff hitter Dom Decker on a flyout to left to end the game.

On the season, the Tar Heels are now 26-0 when Glauber takes to the bump at some point in a game. It was also the third consecutive time the Tar Heels opened with a win in Omaha, dating back to 2018.

But it was all about “Mr. Postseason.” However, Gallaher had something else on his mind when speaking to ESPN after the win.

His family.

“I just want to say, sorry for a second, first, it’s my sister’s birthday. Happy birthday to her. My whole family is here, I’m so thankful for them,” started Gallaher. “I’ve been talking about it a lot, I was a little upset with myself in ‘24.”

He then talked about the timeout Scott Forbes called before his key hit.

“He told me to slow down,” said Gallaher. “He’s so good over there, his presence is so good.”

The Tar Heels will take on West Virginia Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, while Ole Miss will see Troy at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game.