CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The No. 21 Arizona Wildcats (43-19) won a back-and-forth battle, 10-8, against the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels (46-14) on Saturday afternoon to even the Chapel Hill Super Regional and set up a winner-take-all game three.
Saturday's game featured six lead changes, with third baseman
Maddox Mihalakis landing the decisive blow on a first-pitch two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Arizona got clutch hits up and down the lineup in game two, including a game-tying infield single legged out by
Aaron Walton, a go-ahead single by
Tommy Splaine in the fifth, a rally-sparking double by
Brendan Summerhill in the seventh, and Mihalakis' game-winning knock.
Reliever
Tony Pluta provided lockdown relief for the Wildcats, working a career-long 2.1 scoreless innings and earning the win to improve to 3-0.Â
The Wildcats and the Tar Heels both now stand just one win shy of berths in the Men's College World Series. The Chapel Hill Super Regional will be decided on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. MST on ESPN2.
Arizona WildBATS
- 1B Tommy Splaine: 2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI
- 3B Maddox Mihalakis: 2-for-5, 3 RBI
- RF Brendan Summerhill: 2-for-5, R, 2B, RBI
- C Adonys Guzman: 1-for-2, R, RBI, 2 BB
- CF Aaron Walton: 3-for-5, R, RBI
- SS Mason White: 2-for-4, 2 R, BB
- 2B Garen Caulfield: 2-for-5, R
- LF Easton Breyfogle: 1-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB
- DH Andrew Cain: 1-for-4, R, BB
Bullpen Bullies
Number of the Day
- Saturday's game featured six lead changes.
- Tony Pluta has not allowed a run in 25-of-27 appearances this season.
Photo of the Day
Social Media Coverage
Next Up
The Wildcats and Tar Heels square off in a winner-take-all game three on Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch on ESPN2 is scheduled at 9:00 a.m. MST for the right to advance to the Men's College World Series.
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