USC Trojans Collapse in Ninth Inning, Denied Omaha Trip by North Carolina

The 2026 NCAA Baseball playoffs have teams already planning an Omaha trip, with USC and North Carolina vying for one spot during the crucial Game 3 showdown.

Jun 5, 2026; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; USC Trojans pitcher Mason Edwards (30) pitches the ball to the North Carolina Tar Heels during the third inning at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Someone needed to punch their ticket to Omaha between the 2026 USC Trojans or North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team.

USC looked like it was gearing up to plan a trip through a late 3-1 lead at Boshamer Stadium. But North Carolina rallied back in the ninth inning, sealed by an Owen Hull double that drove the winning run home in the 4-3 Game 3 victory.

USC started the Chapel Hill regional, erasing a 5-1 deficit to blast UNC 9-5 in Game 1. Dean Carpentier, pounding his first career grand slam, sparked the Trojans' rally. But North Carolina starting pitcher Jason DeCaro silenced the bats on USC's side for Game 2, spearheading the 4-0 shutout to force the third game.

North Carolina takes advantage of the winner-take-all scenario for the Chapel Hill Regional. It also continues this ACC streak alive: Having a conference representative head to Omaha since 2005. USC, meanwhile, ends its season at 48-18 overall. Live updates are below.

Jun 5, 2026; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; USC Trojans catcher Andrew Lamb (29) rounds third in the sixth inning against the USC Trojans at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

LIVE UPDATES

FINAL: NORTH CAROLINA 4, USC 3

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH INNING: NORTH CAROLINA 4, USC 3

-Hull sends North Carolina back to Omaha on double, which scores final runner.

-Herrell faces Gallaher with two outs, takes the walk to place runners at second and first.

-Schaffner hits the sacrifice fly ball to center to bring Nicholson home.

-French smacks the base hit, tying run now heads to third.

-Carter French takes the bat, but Chase Herrell now relieves Troy the closer.

-Nicholson came so close to the tying home run, but ball curved past the left field foul line. Takes the walk instead.

-Tyler Howe hits bounder to second, but grounds out.

-Adam Troy remains on the mound as the closer option.

TOP OF THE NINTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 2

-Urbon grounds out near second for the third out.

-Dean Carpentier takes the intentional walk, now handing runners at first and second.

-Maddox Riske grounds out, but Basseer advances on to second.

-Jack Basseer hit by pitch to get on first.

-Walker McDuffie now steps in for North Carolina at pitcher.

-Cadena grounds out for USC for the first out. Rose to be relieved at the mound.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 2

-Troy, however, redeems himself by striking out Hynek for third out.

-Troy wild pitch advances runners to third and second base.

-Erik Paulsen hit by pitch, which now places two runners on base at second and first. Adam Troy now comes in for Matson.

-Sax Matson now steps in with two outs remaining in relief for Johnson.

-Macon Winslow bangs the ball to center field, scores Hull to slice the USC lead.

-Johnson surrenders a fair ball double toward left field to Owen Hull.

-Gallaher grounds out for out No. 2 on UNC.

-Schaffner strikes out for the first out of the bottom eighth.

-Johnson just threw his 90th pitch and remains on the hill.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Takeuchi pops out for the third out with Rose forcing it.

-Augie Lopez strikes out first facing the freshman left-hander.

-UNC head coach Scott Forbes relieves Glauber after 11 strikeouts. Jackson Rose now steps into the mound.

-Glauber stays on the mound and strikes out Adrian Lopez.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Johnson forces his third ground out toward him, throws the third out at first.

-Nicholson takes the walk. USC huddles at the mound but Johnson stays put.

-Johnson then forces a ground out for the second out on Tyler Howe.

-The USC pitcher forces a Colin Hynek foul out to start the inning.

-Johnson remains on the mound and nearing a complete game.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Covarrubias grounds out to close the inning and head to the seventh inning stretch.

-Urbon strikes out swinging for the second out.

-Hayden Woodson steps in as a pinch hitter. Gets to second on a sacrifice bunt from Carpentier.

-Andrew Lamb bangs a base hit near center field to start the inning.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Adrian Lopez ends the inning by tagging out Paulsen at first.

-Macon Wilson grounds out near second, Hull stays put.

-Hull bangs a double off the left field wall and gets in scoring position.

-Urbon continues to shine in the outfield with grabbing the first out.

TOP OF THE SIXTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Basseer grounds out at third and leaves the two runners on base.

-UNC allows Cadena to walk, leaving runners at second and first.

-Takeuchi pounds a bunt single and takes advantage of North Carolina's error at first. Takeuchi advanced to second on the miscue.

-Augie Lopez flies out over by the center field wall.

-Adrian Lopez strikes out swinging as Glauber gets his ninth strikeout.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Schaffner flies out toward center field. Johnson once again leaves no one on base.

-Kellis grounds out toward second for the second Tar Heels out. Seventh ground ball out for Johnson.

-Nicholson grounds out to third base for first out.

TOP OF THE FIFTH INNING: USC 3, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Covarrubias strikes out swinging for third out.

-Glaubner gets seventh strikeout for second out of the inning.

-Dean Carpentier fouls out for the first out of the inning.

-Andrew Lamb sends the second solo home run of the day over to right field, puts the Trojans up by two runs.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH INNING: USC 2, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Tyler Howe grounds out for the third out, Johnson leaves no one on base.

-Colin Hynek strikes out swinging.

-Paulsen skies one toward right field but Basseer catches for out No. 1.

-Andrew Johnson remains on mound. Faces Erk Paulsen first.

TOP OF THE FOURTH INNING: USC 2, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Isaac Cadena and Jack Basseer both hit consecutive fly outs to close the inning.

-Kevin Takeuchi sends the ball over left field on the first pitch, puts USC back ahead on soloe home run blast.

-Augie Lopez starts the inning with a foul out.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD INNING: USC 1, NORTH CAROLINA 1

-Macon Winslow flies out to right field for the third out.

-Owen Hull doubles down the right field line, brings Schaffner home to tie the game.

-Gallaher strikes out swinging for second out.

-Jake Schaffner pounds a single near center field.

-Andrew Johnson forces second ground ball that bounces his direction, forces first out.

TOP OF THE THIRD INNING: USC 1, NORTH CAROLINA 0

-Augie Lopez strikes out for third out.

-Abbrie Covarrubias ground out toward third.

-Walker Urbon flies toward center field but UNC delivers the fly out.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND INNING: USC 1, NORTH CAROLINA 0

-Cooper Nicholson grounded out for North Carolina to close out the inning.

-A 5-4-3 double play ends the inning for USC.

TOP OF THE SECOND INNING: USC 1, NORTH CAROLINA 0

-Both Jack Basseer and Andrew Lamb strike out swinging to close the inning.

-Dean Carpentier's solo home run attempt robbed at center field.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INNING: USC 1, NORTH CAROLINA 0

-USC's Johnson allows a double toward right field by Gavin Gallaher. UNC leaves two stranded on base though.

TOP OF THE FIRST INNING: USC 1, NORTH CAROLINA 0

-UNC Pitcher Caden Glauber buckles his left ankle, with the balk allowing Adrian Lopez to advance home.

-USC already threatening with runners at third and second. Augie Lopez puts Adrian Lopez at third with his double.

PREVIEW

Projected Starting Pitcher for USC in Deciding Game 3

USC pitcher Andrew Johnson throws a pitch as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on May 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

USC already threw out top ace Mason Edwards against this team. Edwards noticeably struggled compared to some of his other outings this season. But USC's offense bailed him out during the Super Regional opening.

Grant Govel took the start for Game 2. Except Govel endured his own set of struggles, including surrendering an early home run to Colin Hynek.

So head coach Andy Stankiewicz and the Trojans now will likely turn to Andrew Johnson to help save USC's season. Johnson immediately rose as the projected starter ahead of Game 3, although Stakiewicz didn't officially commit to him just yet.

The veteran head coach added to reporters after the second game that "it'll be everybody" who throws against the Tar Heels. That could mean Govel and Edwards could see reliever action if that's the case.

What's on the Line for USC, North Carolina

Jun 5, 2026; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; The USC Trojans celebrate USC Trojans catcher Andrew Lamb (29) during the seventh inning against the USC Trojans at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

USC aims to end a 25-year dry spell here.

The Trojans haven't punched their ticket to Omaha since 2001. Al Benavente and Mark Prior helped lead the pitching unit for that Trojans' team. Brian Barrer and Seth Davidson powered the offensive unit during USC's last run to the championship stage.

USC would love to bring home a 13th national championship on the baseball diamond. But will need to do it against a loud home crowd inside Boshamer Stadium, taking the side of the Tar Heels.

North Carolina tasted Omaha before, too, but hasn't made it that far since the 2007 regional. Oregon State ended that UNC run in consecutive title games, including the 2006 championship. Although North Carolina last advanced to the Omaha Regional in 2024, beating West Virginia in a sweep.

UNC likely won't have DeCaro available for this one, due to playing a complete game on the hill to keep its own season alive.

Projected Starters and Batting Order

Jun 5, 2026; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; USC infielder Dean Carpentier (6) and teammates celebrate his grand slam against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the sixth inning at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Here's who USC likely will roll out when the Trojans take the field.

Pitcher: Andrew Johnson (probable)

Catcher: Isaac Cadena

First Base: Adrian Lopez

Second Base: Abbrie Covarrubias

Shortstop: Dean Carpentier

Third Base: Kevin Takeuchi

Right Field: Jack Basseer

Center Field: Walter Urbon

Left Field: Andrew Lamb

Designated Hitter: Augie Lopez

Now here's who USC will send to the bat when the Trojans are on offense.

1. Abbrie Covarrubias
2. Adrian Lopez
3. Augie Lopez
4. Kevin Takeuchi
5. Isaac Cadena
6. Andrew Lamb
7. Dean Carpentier
8. Jack Basseer
9. Walter Urbon

Once again, the pitcher hasn't been made official ahead of the first pitch. But USC looks like it'll unload the lineup there to get out of the Chapel Hill regional with a win.

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