The first inning of No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 8 Florida State gave fans no indication of what could be coming the rest of the game. Six up, six down. Was a pitcher’s duel on the way?
Not in the slightest. The two teams combined for 24 hits, seven extra-base hits, 12 walks, and 14 runs, punctuated by an eight-run fifth inning.
Before the actual storm arrived over Charles Schwab Field, Florida State weathered the one on the field, winning 9-5 to survive the elimination game and keep its season alive.
MORE: Watch the College World Series live with Fubo (free trial)
Florida State had baserunners in every inning, first scratching a run across in the top of the second on a Drew Faurot hit, then tacking on twice in the third on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly. North Carolina responded with a run in the bottom half when Casey Cook doubled to drive in star Vance Honeycutt.
The fifth inning was about as tumultuous as it gets in Omaha. Florida State racked up six hits to score four runs, bringing on thoughts of an early blowout with a 7-1 advantage. But after a single and a walk, Honeycutt blasted a three-run homer to make it a 7-4 contest. Four batters later, Jackson Van De Brake singled to give North Carolina an even four runs to match the Seminoles.
The two sides traded shutout innings the remainder of the game, with the Seminoles staying out in front by a pair until Jaxson West and Max Williams led off the top of the ninth with back-to-back solo homers to push the advantage to four runs, giving the Seminoles some insurance before the bottom of the ninth.
West, Florida State’s No. 9 hitter, finished Tuesday with four hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. Connor Hults gave the Seminoles a strong outing against the Tar Heels, going 4.1 innings of relief with just two hits and a walk allowed. He kept the Tar Heels off the scoreboard for the entirety of his outing.
Florida State will now move on to face No. 1 Tennessee on Wednesday. The Seminoles will have to win both games to advance to the College World Series finals.
Sporting News tracked the latest scores and highlights from Tuesday's College World Series game between Florida State and North Carolina. Follow for updates from the game.
Florida State vs. UNC baseball score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | F | |
| Florida State | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Florida State vs. UNC live updates, highlights from College World Series
(All times Eastern)
5:54 p.m. End of game: Cook grounds out to second, and the Seminoles win 9-5.
5:52 p.m.: Massive strikeout for Hults as Honeycutt comes up empty swinging at a down-and-in breaking ball. One out away.
5:50 p.m.: Wilkerson nearly hits into a 5-4-3 double play, but it was hit slow enough that Faurot at second doesn't even try to make the throw to first.
5:47 p.m.: Hults is called for a pitch-clock violation, and the next pitch misses low for a leadoff walk.
5:43 p.m. End top ninth: Ferrer flies out to center to end the inning. The Seminoles will look to close out the four-run advantage on North Carolina facing Madera, Wilkerson, and Honeycutt in the bottom of the ninth.
5:41 p.m.: Tibbs flies out to center before Dinges reaches on an infield single to third.
5:36 p.m.: Smith goes down swinging for the first out of the inning.
5:31 p.m. Florida State scoring play: The Seminoles are tacking on some ninth-inning insurance. Williams blasts a solo shot to right. Back-to-back homers push the Seminole lead to five runs. That will also end the day for Padgett, who is replaced by Ben Peterson. Florida State 9, North Carolina 5
Back-to-Back Jacks in the 9th!!!!
It's been the Jax & Max show and they both come thru in the 9th
T9 | FSU 9, UNC 5 pic.twitter.com/O5Jqpcc8WQ
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) June 18, 20245:30 p.m. Florida State scoring play: What a performance by the No. 9 hitter. West's fourth hit of the game is a home run. He hits it 353 feet to left for his third homer of the season. Florida State 8, North Carolina 5
5:27 p.m. End of eighth: Strong throw by Smith on a grounder to third gets Gallaher for the third out.
5:25 p.m.: Stevenson grounds out to second, moving Van De Brake up to third, but there are now two away for Gallaher.
5:24 p.m.: Van De Brake crushes a double down the left-field line. The tying run will come up to the plate in the freshman Stevenson, who has 14 home runs so far this year.
5:22 p.m.: Hults, still on the mound, fields a grounder from Donofrio and fires a strike to first for the groundout.
5:18 p.m. End top eighth: Faurot hits a liner right at Wilkerson, who makes the catch to end the inning.
5:17 p.m.: Lodise pops up into foul territory, and Harber has just enough space to make the catch for the second out.
5:15 p.m.: Cantu works a seven-pitch walk, laying off a high fastball. Nine walks for Florida State today.
5:12 p.m.: Nice play by Madera with a running snag and strong throw to nab Ferrer to start the eighth.
5:08 p.m. End of seventh: A beautiful breaking ball from Hults gets Harber swinging for the strikeout to end the frame. Florida State needs six outs to set up a clash with Tennessee tomorrow.
5:06 p.m.: Huge second out as Hults guesses right and picks off Honeycutt, with Cantu throwing over to Lodise at second to nab Honeycutt trying to steal.
5:04 p.m.: Honeycutt breaks on the 1-1 pitch, but he has to retreat after Cook flies out to left down the line.
5:03 p.m.: Honeycutt is doing everything he can to keep the Tar Heels' offense going. He pushes a base hit up the middle. Now, the Seminoles have to deal with his speed. He's 28-for-31 in stolen base attempts this season.
4:59 p.m. End top seventh: Dinges hits a grounder to third, but Gallaher makes the throw to second to get out of the jam.
4:57 p.m.: North Carolina nearly gets out of the jam as Tibbs hits a grounder to second, and Madera gets the throw off to second after the dive for the out. Wilkerson's throw to first is just a step behind Tibbs. North Carolina challenges that Tibbs is safe since it has both challenges available, and almost immediately, the safe call is confirmed. The Tar Heels have one challenge left.
4:55 p.m.: Smith pops out to second. Huge first out of the inning, but Tibbs now due up.
4:52 p.m.: Williams lays off a high fastball for a walk, giving Smith a chance to hit with runners on first and second with no one out. That's the eighth walk issued by North Carolina today.
4:49 p.m.: West leads off the inning with an infield single up the middle, just beating the throw from Madera to first.
4:45 p.m. End of sixth: This time, Madera can't win the race to the base as his grounder to Cantu is fielded by the first baseman and taken himself to the bag. Wilkerson grounds out to third on the next pitch as Hults spins a 1-2-3 inning.
4:43 p.m.: Gallaher flies out to right to lead off the bottom of the sixth.
4:39 p.m. End of sixth: How about that from Padgett. He comes in to face Faurot and strikes him out swinging on a curveball to strand the bases loaded.
4:34 p.m.: A third free pass issued by Poston this inning as Lodise lays off a high fastball on 3-2. Faurot will bat with the bases loaded and two out. Cameron Padgett will come in to pitch for Poston.
4:31 p.m.: Cantu swings at the 3-1 count and lifts to left for a flyout. Poston is one out away of getting out of danger.
4:29 p.m.: Poston paints a 95 mph fastball down and away to catch Ferrer looking for a strikeout.
4:28 p.m.: Another walk, this one to Dinges. Ferrer coming up to the plate with runners on first and second with no outs.
4:24 p.m.: Tibbs collects his second walk of the day. He's been on base three times today.
4:19 p.m. End of fifth: Stevenson bounces into a fielder's choice to end the inning. The fifth inning started as a two-run game, it became a six-run game and exits as a two-run game again.
4:16 p.m.: That last hit will chase Whittaker, who records only an out on 21 pitches. Lefty Connor Hults is coming in for Florida State.
4:14 p.m. North Carolina scoring play: The hits keep coming for the Tar Heels. Van De Brake crushes a single up the middle to score Harber. North Carolina has matched the Florida State four-spot in the top of the fifth with one of its own. Florida State 7, North Carolina 5
4:11 p.m.: Five-pitch walk to Donofrio. Since coming in, Whittaker has given up a home run, a flyout to center, a line drive single and a quick walk. He has not looked sharp on the hill.
4:10 p.m.: Harber lines a base hit that just gets under the diving glove of Ferrer, who traps it to hold him to a single.
4:08 p.m.: Cook flies out to center for the second out.
4:06 p.m. North Carolina scoring play: And we've got a game again. Honeycutt blasts a hanging slider from Whittaker to left. Just like that, it's back to a three-run game. Florida State 7, North Carolina 4
No surprise here @HoneycuttVance #MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @DiamondHeels pic.twitter.com/u9goCA9Xai
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 18, 20244:01 p.m.: Wilkerson lays off the inside breaking ball for the one-out walk. Honeycutt steps up to the plate in a moment that feels crucial for North Carolina. That walk will end Armstrong's day as Conner Whittaker comes in from the bullpen.
3:59 p.m.: The Tar Heels have a baserunner as Madera beats the race to first against Armstrong for an infield single.
3:57 p.m.: Gallaher leads off the inning with a flyout to left-center.
3:54 p.m. End top fourth: That will do it for Pence, the relief ace of the Tar Heels. A four-spot in the inning jumps his ERA more than a half-run and his afternoon is over. North Carolina turns to Matt Poston, who immediately gets a fielder's choice to second to end the inning.
3:48 p.m. Florida State scoring play: This game has reached blowout territory. West singles to shallow center to drive home Cantu, followed by a first-pitch single by Williams to score Lodise. Florida State 7, North Carolina 1
How about RBI singles from Jax & Max to build on the lead!
4 runs, 6 hits in the 5th as UNC goes back to the 'pen
T5 | FSU 7, UNC 1 pic.twitter.com/P08iVkgcHO
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) June 18, 20243:46 p.m.: Pence picks up the second out of the inning as Faurot flies out to right-center.
3:45 p.m. Florida State scoring play: The Seminoles keep adding on. Lodise grounds a base hit past third to score Ferrer. Runners still on first and second with only one out. Florida State 5, North Carolina 1
All 9 Noles have now reached after Lodise's RBI single!
T5 | FSU 5, UNC 1 pic.twitter.com/ZIEJPdvNIK
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) June 18, 20243:42 p.m. Florida State scoring play: Cantu sends a base hit through the left side of the infield that drives home Tibbs. The Seminoles push their lead back up to three. Florida State 4, North Carolina 1
Cantu comes through!
Tibbs doubles and scores after singles from Jaime & DC
T5 | FSU 4, UNC 1 pic.twitter.com/CnrX5wOam5
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) June 18, 20243:41 p.m.: Ferrer bloops in a single to shallow center. Tibbs holds up at third after he got a slow jump at second on the hit.
3:37 p.m.: That's two unsuccessful challenges by the Seminoles, and they're out of them for today. Umpires confirm the out call at first.
3:34 p.m.: Tibbs rips a double into the right-center gap to lead off the inning. Like Tibbs, Dinges also swings at the first pitch, though his results in a groundout to shortstop with Wilkerson making a nice charging play. Florida State is challenging the ruling on the field, saying Harber's foot came off the bag before recording the out. It's a close call.
3:30 p.m. End of fourth: Van De Brake makes hard contact, but Ferrer ranges over to make the catch in left. Stevenson swings at the next pitch and bounces out to second to end the inning as Armstrong throws a 10-pitch, 1-2-3 inning.
3:28 p.m.: Donofrio nearly beats Armstrong to first, but the pitcher arrives just in time to catch the flip from Cantu at first to record the first out.
3:24 p.m. End top fourth: Smith hits into a 4-6-3, inning-ending double play.
3:22 p.m.: Williams pulls a base hit into right for a single. Smith coming up with runners on first and second and only one away, the third straight inning the Seminoles have had two on and only one out.
3:18 p.m.: West flips an opposite-field base hit to left on an 0-2 count to bring the top of the lineup to the plate with a runner on first and one away.
3:17 p.m.: Faurot is caught looking at a backdoor breaking ball for strike three.
3:14 p.m. End of third: Harber grounds out to third to leave a runner at second.
3:12 p.m. North Carolina scoring play: Cook fries a breaking ball over the middle of the plate down the right-field line for a double to drive in Honeycutt as the Tar Heels are now on the board. Florida State 3, North Carolina 1
Cook trades places with Honeycutt and we're on the board! pic.twitter.com/iSRWhajpvM
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 18, 20243:10 p.m.: Honeycutt brings the spark for the Tar Heels as he ropes a double to the left-field wall, bouncing just in front of a diving attempt from Ferrer. With two outs, Cook will hope to keep the inning alive.
3:09 p.m.: Solid contact by Wilkerson, but it hangs up for Williams to make the grab for the second out.
3:08 p.m.: Madera grounds out to short to lead off the bottom of the third.
3:04 p.m End top third: Pence gets out of any further damage by getting Lodise to pop out to short. But the Seminoles will head to the bottom of the third leading by three.
3:02 p.m. Florida State scoring play: Cantu swings at the first pitch he sees and lifts it to center. The flyout is more than deep enough to score Tibbs from third. Florida State 3, North Carolina 0
.@FSUBaseball tacks on another #MCWS x 🎥 ESPN pic.twitter.com/ay58FZSjrR
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 18, 20242:59 p.m.: Wow, and just like that, Matthijs is done. The Tar Heels are bringing in ace reliever Dalton Pence to face Cantu for the lefty-lefty matchup.
2:57 p.m. Florida State scoring play: With the wind whipping, Matthijs struggles with command against Ferrer and misses down and away on the fifth pitch for a bases-loaded walk to bring in a run. Florida State 2, North Carolina 0
2:52 p.m.: The Tar Heels take some time getting Matthew Matthijs loose, and he is coming into the game. Haugh's day is done after he recorded only one out in the top of the third before loading the bases.
2:50 p.m.: Dinges is hit by the first pitch he sees and the bases are loaded with one out for Ferrer.
2:49 p.m.: Back-to-back walks to the Seminoles have Florida State threatening with two runners on and only one out for the second consecutive inning.
2:46 p.m.: Impressive plate appearance by Smith laying off a couple close pitches as he works the seven-pitch walk.
2:44 p.m.: Shallow fly off the bat of Williams is caught on a running grab by Cook.
2:41 p.m. End of second: Gallaher hits a comebacker to Armstrong, who throws over to first for the third out.
2:39 p.m.: A second base hit for the Tar Heels as Stevenson hits a slow grounder up the middle that just gets past a diving attempt from Lodise at short for a single.
2:37 p.m.: Armstrong wastes no time getting Donofrio back off the bases, eliciting a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Van De Brake.
2:36 p.m.: Before the bottom of the second, Armstrong had the head coach and trainer out to look at him after he threw his final warmup pitch. He's staying in the game, however. Donofrio greets him with an infield chopper to third, which he just beats out to first for a single. Florida State challenged the call, but it did not take long before the play was confirmed.
2:30 p.m. End top second: Haugh catches West looking for strike three as the Tar Heels avert any more damage.
2:28 p.m. Florida State scoring play: Faurot lines a base hit up the middle. Ferrer races around to score, everyone else goes station to station. The Seminoles take the early lead. Florida State 1, North Carolina 0
#Noles on top after Ferrer walks and scores after singles from Cantu & Faurot!
B2 | FSU 1, UNC 0 pic.twitter.com/xm841ezhQZ
— FSU Baseball (@FSUBaseball) June 18, 20242:26 p.m.: Lodise gets under a 1-1 fastball and flies out to center, with Honeycutt narrowly avoiding a collision with Donofrio in right-center.
2:25 p.m.: Now some momentum for Florida State as Cantu hits a high fly that drops in left. Cook came close to making a dive on it, but came up just short. Ferrer had to make sure it got down between Cook and Gallaher racing out from third down the line, so he only moves up to second. Runners on first and second with one away.
2:23 p.m.: The Seminoles have the first baserunner of the day as Ferrer lays off three straight balls, the latter well down and away to give the left fielder a one-out walk.
2:22 p.m.: Dinges likes the first pitch he sees and hits it on a line, but right at Honeycutt in center.
2:19 p.m. End of first: Armstrong matches Haugh's 1-2-3 inning with one of his own as Harber bounces out to third to end the inning. No first-inning baserunners for either side.
2:17 p.m.: Cook hits a hard grounder to first that Cantu initially has some issues picking, but he grabs the ball and just beats the race to the bag for the second out.
2:16 p.m.: Honeycutt swings through a breaker down-and-away as Armstrong begins his afternoon with a punchout.
2:12 p.m. End top first: Make it two strikeouts for Haugh in the first inning as Tibbs comes up empty at a changeup away for a 1-2-3 inning.
2:10 p.m.: Smith pops out to second for the second out. Haugh moving quickly through the order after falling behind in the count to the first batter.
2:09 p.m.: Haugh battles back from a 3-0 count to strike Max Williams out swinging with a high fastball.
2:08 p.m.: Haugh's first pitch is a fastball that misses away, and this game is off and running.
2:06 p.m.: The Tar Heels have taken the field. The game is minutes away.
1:50 p.m.: Baseball fans are certainly hoping to get these games in today in time before the weather. The National Weather Service lists a 40 percent chance of rain this afternoon and a 100 percent chance of rain this evening, including thunderstorms. That could all wind up disrupting the games played today.
1:26 p.m.: The teams are getting ready for Tuesday's clash at Charles Schwab Field.
Getting loose 🤙 pic.twitter.com/BF7y9FmloY
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 18, 202412:55 p.m.: Here's a look at the lineups for today's game:
Florida State
P: Andrew Armstrong
North Carolina
P: Aidan Haugh
12:20 p.m.: Vance Honeycutt has been a big-time star for the Tar Heels in the College World Series. Listen to him break down his swing before this afternoon's elimination game against Florida State.
.@DiamondHeels star Vance Honeycutt walks us through his swing at the #MCWS 💪 pic.twitter.com/D5l0CZolq7
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 18, 2024How to watch Florida State vs. UNC
- Start time: 2 p.m. ET
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo
Florida State vs. North Carolina will be carried live on ESPN. Those hoping to stream the game can find it live on ESPN+ or on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
College World Series schedule
Friday, June 14
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | North Carolina 3, Virginia 2 | — | — |
| Game 2 | Tennessee 12, Florida State 11 | — | — |
Saturday, June 15
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 3 | Kentucky 5, NC State 4 | — | — |
| Game 4 | Texas A&M 3, Florida 2 | — | — |
Sunday, June 16
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 5 | Florida State 7, Virginia 3 | — | — |
| Game 6 | Tennessee 6, North Carolina 1 | — | — |
Monday, June 17
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 7 | Florida 5, NC State 4 | — | — |
| Game 8 | Texas A&M 5, Kentucky 1 | — | — |
Tuesday, June 18
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 9 | Florida State vs. North Carolina | 2 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Game 10 | Kentucky vs. Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
Wednesday, June 19
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 11 | Tennessee vs. TBD | 2 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Game 12 | Texas A&M vs. TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
Thursday, June 20
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Game 13 | TBD | 2 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| *Game 14 | TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
*If necessary
Saturday, June 22
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWS Finals Game 1 | TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
Sunday, June 23
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWS Finals Game 2 | TBD | 2 p.m. | ABC, Fubo |
Monday, June 24
| Game | Matchup/Result | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| *CWS Finals Game 3 | TBD | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
*If necessary
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