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

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