Gavin Gallaher’s walk-off grand slam capped off an unbelievable ninth inning at Boshamer Stadium Friday night, one which saw visiting Long Island score four runs to take an 8-5 lead, but Carolina respond with six of its own in the bottom of the frame to win 11-8. It was UNC’s first walk-off grand slam since 2010.

“Last week, I had been in pretty much the exact same situation against Wake Forest,” Gallaher said after the game. “I didn’t get the job done that time. So I just used that experience to trust myself, and know that I was gonna get it done this time.”

Gallaher’s heroics were part of a dynamic night at the plate for the freshman third baseman. He collected three hits and four runs batted in, including a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut a 3-1 Long Island lead down to 3-2. Gallaher was at it again in the sixth, tying the game with a double and then scoring on a go-ahead, two run single from Alex Madera in the next at-bat.

Up 5-3, UNC’s Dalton Pence recorded five straight outs in the seventh and eighth, but pinch-hitter Matthew McGurk lifted a towering solo home run to left-center field, cutting the lead down to 5-4. The Sharks put the tying run on second base with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but the drama was just beginning. With Matt Poston on the mound and LIU down to its last strike, J.C. Navarro – who had already clubbed a three-run homer earlier in the game – ripped a double down the left-field line to tie the game. Poston then intentionally walked the next batter, but Jacob Pipercic made the Tar Heels pay with a booming three-run home run. The Sharks had taken an 8-5 lead, and Boshamer Stadium was in a stunned silence.

“I want the guys to feed off me and understand, ‘Hey, you’ve gotta keep your eyes forward,'” said head coach Scott Forbes. “We say ’27 outs’ all the time, because you’ve gotta get ’em.”

The Tar Heels made headway immediately in the bottom of the ninth. Vance Honeycutt reached after being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Singles by Casey Cook and Anthony Donofrio loaded the bases, and then the runs came tumbling in. Alberto Osuna singled to score one. Luke Stevenson walked to score another. The score was now 8-7, and Carolina still had the bases loaded with just one out. That brought up Gallaher, and he wasted little time, demolishing an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall and sending Chapel Hill into hysterics.

“That’s one hell of a game,” Donofrio said. “Gallaher’s got ice-water in his veins.”

Off the heels of that high drama, Carolina will face LSU in the winner’s bracket Saturday at 5 p.m. The Tigers needed a walk-off home run of their own to defeat Wofford in the regional’s first game earlier in the day.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Baseball in the 2025 NCAA Super Regionals: How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start Times
UNC baseball is hosting a super regional round, as the No. 5 Diamond Heels welcome the Arizona Wildcats for a best-of-three series.
'We Can't Overlook Today': UNC Baseball Learning From Past Drama Entering NCAA Tournament
If any team in the country knows not to take a so-called “cupcake” NCAA Tournament game lightly, it’s the Diamond Heels.
UNC Baseball to Host NCAA Regional at Boshamer Stadium as No. 5 Overall Seed
Postseason baseball is coming back to the Bosh. The Diamond Heels were named as the No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA Baseball Tournament Monday, guaranteeing at least a regional at Boshamer Stadium. The regional will be contested from Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1, with a potential game scheduled for Monday, June 2. […]
Vance Honeycutt's Walk-Off Home Run Gives UNC Baseball Thrilling Super Regional Win
Vance Honeycutt blasted a two-run walk-off home run to cap off a three-run bottom of the ninth inning for the Diamond Heels, securing an 8-6 win against West Virginia in the first game of the NCAA Super Regionals at Boshamer Stadium. It’s the second straight Friday night in which Carolina has won via a walk-off. […]
UNC-LSU NCAA Regional Baseball Games Set ESPN Viewership Record
Nearly a million people tuned in to watch the Diamond Heels take on LSU in Monday’s winner-take-all clash at Boshamer Stadium, according to ESPN. The 964,000 viewers are a record for an NCAA Regional game. Monday’s game surpassed the previous mark by more than 200,000 viewers, which had been set just two days before in […]
UNC Baseball Wins 10-Inning Thriller Against LSU in Regional Final, Advances to Super Regionals
With their backs against the wall, the Diamond Heels came through in the clutch. Colby Wilkerson hit a game-tying RBI single in the top of the ninth and Alex Madera singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th to give Carolina an unforgettable 4-3 win against LSU in the NCAA Regional Final on Monday night […]
UNC Baseball in the NCAA Regionals (2024): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Start Times
The Diamond Heels will continue their NCAA Tournament journey on Monday evening at Boshamer Stadium as part of the Chapel Hill Regional. Carolina will play LSU in a winner-take-all matchup for the right to advance to this weekend’s Super Regionals. UNC is seeking its second appearance in the Super Regionals in three seasons. If you […]
LSU Beats UNC Baseball in NCAA Regionals, Forces Winner-Take-All Game Monday Night
A sloppy start by the Carolina pitching staff set the Diamond Heels in an early 8-1 hole, and LSU held the lead from there to win 8-4 on Sunday night at Boshamer Stadium. It’s just the third home loss suffered by the Tar Heels all season. The Tigers’ Josh Pearson opened the scoring by taking […]
Honeycutt's Home Runs Help UNC Baseball Beat LSU in Saturday Showdown
In front of a standing-room-only crowd at Boshamer Stadium, Vance Honeycutt clubbed two home runs against LSU ace Luke Holman to help the Diamond Heels defeat the defending national champion Tigers 6-2 on Saturday night. On to the championship game!!#GoHeels x @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/YpD7YlL2ql — Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 2, 2024 “That’s as good an atmosphere […]
Gavin Gallaher's Walk-Off Grand Slam Caps Comeback Win for UNC Baseball
Gavin Gallaher’s walk-off grand slam capped off an unbelievable ninth inning at Boshamer Stadium Friday night, one which saw visiting Long Island score four runs to take an 8-5 lead, but Carolina respond with six of its own in the bottom of the frame to win 11-8. It was UNC’s first walk-off grand slam since […]
›