A 3-run homer by Jackson Van De Brake gave North Carolina a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning, following consecutive singles from Carter French and Kane Kepley. Arizona starter Smith Bailey was charged with those three runs with five hits allowed, four strikeouts and three walks in six innings.

With the Wildcats now headed to Omaha, Carolina becomes the latest in a growing line of pre-tournament favorites to fail to reach Omaha. Four of the top 5 national seeds — Vanderbilt, Texas, Auburn and now UNC — have now been eliminated.