Chapel Hill, NC – Arkansas Baseball College is one win away from its 11th World Series road trip.
The big third inning and strong effort from senior pitcher Connor Noland helped the Razarbacks to a 4-1 victory over North Carolina in the first game of the Chapel Hill Super Regional on Saturday.
Arkansas (42-19), which beat No. 7 Oklahoma State in the Stillwater region, will try to finish the Super Regional Series in CT at noon Sunday.
The 10th-ranked Dar Heels (42-21) will try to force a winner-takes-all game on Monday.
Here are three tips from Arkansas’ victory in the opening game of Super Regional.
Reflexes:UNC vs. Game 1 Super Saturday on Saturday. Arkansas Baseball Highlights Videos
Select them:What are the odds of Arkansas Razarbox baseball betting winning the 2022 College World Series?
Beyton is mad at Stowe
Eighth in the lineup, newcomer Beyton Stowell stepped up to the plate for the Racebacks in the fifth inning of three runs.
Stowell, who entered Saturday with four home runs on the season, hit his fifth homer into the top of the net just outside the right-field wall at Boshamar Stadium to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead.
This is Stowell’s first home run since May 19 against Alabama.
After a walk and a single, Brady Slavens went to center field for a single, and Caden Wallace made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly. The Slavs added another run in the seventh.
Connor Noland was eliminated early
Senior right-hander Connor Noland got off to a strong start and won with a solid effort after an impressive first inning.
Dar Heels led off the game with a single, loaded the bases with one out, and Noland got out of trouble with a strikeout and a groundout.
Noland, who went 6 shutout innings to score his seventh win of the season, retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced. He allowed six wins, finishing with one walk and six strikeouts.
Caroline’s Crimes
The Thar Heels have averaged 11 runs in their last three games and only managed one run against the Razrebacks.
Vance Honeycutt added UNC to the crease with an eighth-inning solo shot for the Thar Heels. This is the lowest run scored by the Dar Heels in a game after a 12-1 loss to Virginia Tech at Chapel Hill on April 1.
UNC had eight wins and left eight runners in the basement.
Staff writer Rodd Boxley can be reached at [email protected] o Twitter RoddBaxley.
