Overview
- USC overcame a 5-1 deficit to beat North Carolina 9-5 in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional on Friday, with Dean Carpentier’s grand slam turning the game in the sixth inning.
- The Trojans’ offense added three more runs in the seventh to pull away and hand the No. 5 national seed Tar Heels a first loss in the best‑of‑three series.
- USC started ace Mason Edwards, the Big Ten pitcher of the year, and leaned on a pitching staff that reporters identified as the Trojans’ primary strength entering the series.
- Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at Boshamer Stadium with a deciding Game 3 set for Sunday if needed and national broadcasts on ESPN/ESPN2 and streaming on the ESPN app.
- The win continues USC’s late postseason surge after it battled through the College Station Regional and brings the program one step from its first College World Series trip since 2001 while UNC faces the pressure of protecting home field.