Davidson ousts UNC, wins regional in first NCAA baseball tournament

Best known as the school where Stephen Curry played his college basketball, Davidson is quickly making a name for itself in baseball.

The Wildcats from the 2,000-student private school 20 minutes from Charlotte, North Carolina, became the sixth No. 4 regional seed to advance to a super regional.

They did it by beating No. 2 national seed North Carolina 2-1 on Sunday night – their second win over the Tar Heels in three days.

And they did it in their first tournament appearance.

Davidson’s run through the Chapel Hill Regional didn’t come without some drama in the ninth inning. There was a play at the plate, with catcher Jake Sidwell diving to tag Brandon Riley after Riley missed the plate with his hand as he slid past. And then first baseman Brian Fortier was pulled far to his right to field Michael Busch’s groundball, and his flip to pitcher Durin O’Linger was a bit high. But O’Linger held on in a close play for the final out.

The victory validated the words O’Linger said after the Wildcats won three games in two days to claim the Atlantic 10 Tournament title. The Wildcats were seeded sixth in that tournament.

“Everyone knows we’re gonna go win the regional,” O’Linger told the Charlotte Observer. “I feel bad for whatever No. 1 seed has to play us.”

The bearded reliever got the win in Friday’s 8-4 victory over the Tar Heels, and he earned the save for Sunday’s milestone win. Davidson will play a best-of-three super regional starting Friday or Saturday against the winner of the Houston Regional.

Davidson joins Missouri in 2006, Fresno State in 2008, Stony Brook in 2012, College of Charleston in 2014 and VCU in 2015 as No. 4 regional seeds to advance. Fresno State went on to win the national title, and Stony Brook reached the College World Series.

No. 1 national seed Oregon State, No. 4 LSU, No. 7 Louisville and Wake Forest joined Davidson and Cal State Fullerton as regional winners.

Eric Walker scattered seven hits and struck out eight in LSU’s 5-0 win over Rice. The Tigers will host Southern Mississippi or Mississippi State in super regionals.

Louisville came from behind twice to beat Xavier 8-7. The Cardinals will play Kentucky or North Carolina State.

No. 1 regional seed Wake Forest beat West Virginia 12-8, with Stuart Fairchild hitting a grand slam for the first of his two homers. The Demon Deacons will face No. 3 national seed Florida or Bethune-Cookman.