WVU’s season ends with loss to North Carolina in CWS
OMAHA, Neb. – The most productive season in West Virginia baseball history wrapped up Wednesday with one of its worst days.
North Carolina, behind 16 hits – the most allowed by WVU this season – advanced to its first national championship series since 2007 following a 12-7 victory inside Charles Schwab Field in the College World Series.
Facing elimination and needing to beat the Tar Heels twice, the Mountaineers (47-17) finally ran out of steam and heroics that had carried the program to all-time heights in reaching the national semifinals.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this group of kids,” WVU head coach Steve Sabins said. “What they were able to do and what they were able to accomplish was nothing short of miraculous. I’m so thankful for these players.”
And if this bunch had collectively thrived in the NCAA tournament with storylines found from the top of the order to the bottom and the pitching staff, they also put together an all-around poor effort in falling to North Carolina (53-12-1) for the fourth consecutive time since the two programs met in the 2024 super regionals.
WVU needed a shutdown performance from starter Chansen Cole, but it never materialized.
Cole wasn’t alone. The Mountaineers needed stellar defense, too. Instead, they committed two errors over the first four innings that helped lead UNC to an 8-1 lead.
“We didn’t play our cleanest baseball and that certainly happens,” Sabins said.
“Those guys just came out swinging the bats,” added WVU outfielder Armani Guzman. “I don’t know how many extra=base hits they had, but it seemed like a lot.”
WVU needed its offense to stay alive after putting up 14 hits and 12 runs against Troy on Tuesday, but was held to just four hits over the first six innings. WVU did put up four runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh. By then, the Tar Heels had already booked their spot in the national championship series.
WVU ended the game getting two more guys on base in the ninth inning, before Ben Lumsden flew out to deep right field to end the season.
“It would have made a lot of sense if that ended up as a home run,” WVU reliever Reese Bassinger said. “With the way we all never gave up, that would have been perfect. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
A gem of a find from the Division II ranks heading into the season, Cole was never able to carry that momentum into Omaha. He struggled against Troy in the opener last Friday, coming out in the third inning of that game.
Against the Tar Heels, he gave up a leadoff walk to Jake Schaffner and Owen Hull followed that with a run-scoring double for a 1-0 lead. Hull scored when he stole third and WVU third baseman Tyrus Hall couldn’t haul in the throw and the ball sailed into left field, as Hull scored easily.
Hull has been a tough out for everyone. Since the start of the NCAA tournament, he’s had a hit in nine consecutive games and has collected 10 RBIs. He was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle against the Mountaineers on Wednesday.
Cole got the Tar Heels out in order in the second inning, but was pulled after allowing a walk and two singles in the third. After 2 1/3 innings, Cole was charged with four hits and four runs.
“If we were going to win this game, we thought we needed Chansen Cole to get through their lineup twice,” Sabins said. “We thought if he could pull that off then we could stay within striking distance. He wasn’t quite able to do that, but he’s the whole reason we are here. He won 10 games. He’s an All-American.”
Ian Korn and Bassinger followed out of the bullpen, but North Carolina’s hit parade was already in full gear.
Hull had two doubles and a triple as part of his day. Gavin Gallaher added four RBIs and Erik Paulsen had three hits. The bulk of the damage was from the top of North Carolina’s batting order, which saw the top four guys combine to go 12 of 18 with three extra-base hits, eight RBIs and nine runs scored.
It was the eighth time this season WVU allowed at least 10 runs in a game and the Mountaineers fell to 3-5 in those games.
“The whole season was just a blessing,” WVU outfielder Paul Schoenfeld said. “What a run, from the time (Sabins) took a chance on me. I thank him and the coaches. I thank these players. It was an amazing run. Everyone went out there and gave West Virginia everything they had. They worked their (butts) off.”