Two outs. Two measly outs.
That was all the most decorated program in college baseball history needed to get back to what once felt like its second home.
At that point, everything was tilting heavily in USC’s favor as it sought its first College World Series appearance since 2001.
The Trojans held a one-run lead over North Carolina with the bases empty in the ninth inning of the decisive game of their NCAA Tournament Super Regional, with the ball in the capable hand of closer Adam Troy.
Nothing else went their way.
There was a walk on a full count. A pitching change on a 3-and-0 count. A single that put runners on the corners. A run-scoring sacrifice fly to tie the score. A walk.
The implosion was complete once Tar Heels center fielder Owen Hull crushed Chase Herrell’s final pitch for a two-out, run-scoring walk-off double just out of the reach of center fielder Kevin Takeuchi, completing USC’s crushing 4-3 loss on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Trojans’ College World Series drought now stands at 26 years.
“That was a tough one,” USC coach Andy Stankiewicz told reporters. “I don’t really know what to say in moments like this.”
The bullpen meltdown wasted 7 ⅔ superb innings from USC starter Andrew Johnson, who held the Tar Heels to two hits and two runs only two days after he had pitched 3 ⅔ innings of scoreless relief in the series opener.
USC (48-18) also received an infusion of power from Takeuchi and Andrew Lamb, whose solo homers had given the Trojans a 3-1 lead.
After North Carolina (50-12-1) tied the score in the third inning on Hull’s two-out, run-scoring double, the Trojans surged back into the lead on Takeuchi’s homer to left on a hanging slider in the fourth inning.
An inning later, Lamb crushed another hanging slider over the right field fence to extend USC’s advantage to 3-1.
Those swings were just what the Trojans needed against North Carolina starter Caden Glauber, the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year who was otherwise dominant with 11 strikeouts in 7 ⅓ innings.
But the early and middle innings were relegated to a footnote by the high drama of the ninth inning. USC, which has won a record 12 national titles, must wait at least one more year for a chance to notch No. 13.
What it means
It’s total devastation for a program that appeared bound for its first College World Series appearance in a quarter of a century. The tears flowed freely on the field as the Trojans fully understood the meaning of the moment and the opportunity lost.
Turning point
Once Johnson came out of the game, the Tar Heels’ offense sprang to life against relievers Sax Matson, Troy and Herrell.
There were some oddities in the final innings as Matson threw just one pitch, hitting a batter before Stankiewicz turned to Troy. Stankiewicz then replaced Troy on a 3-and-0 count in the ninth inning before Herrell gave up the tying and go-ahead runs.
MVP: Owen Hull
Hull went 4-for-5 with four doubles and two RBIs, including the winning run on his ninth-inning double with two out.
Struggling all series with runners in scoring position — including Sunday, when they went just 2-for-8 — the Tar Heels came through with the big hit thanks to the transfer from George Mason.
Up next
While North Carolina advanced to face Ole Miss in its College World Series opener, the Trojans will replay the excruciating final inning all the way until their 2027 season opener.
