College World Series | UNC eliminated with 9-5 loss to Florida State

The ninth-inning magic ran out for UNC in the NCAA baseball playoffs.

Florida State wins 9-5 and eliminates North Carolina.

In the bottom of the ninth, Alex Madera walked to give the Heels some hope. Colby Wilkerson grounded out on a force play with Medera out at second base,

Then up came Vance Honeycutt, who has been Mr. Clutch for UNC and leads the NCAA tournament with six home runs. But after starting the at-bat by taking two balls, Honeycutt eventually struck out.

It seemed inevitable then that there would be no more late heroics and indeed Casey Cook grounded out to second and the run was over for the Heels.

It's become a familiar theme for UNC baseball.

Backs against the wall with three outs left.

After the Heels cut the lead to 7-5, Florida State hit back-to-back- home runs in the top of the ninth inning to extend its margin to 9-5.

Jaxson West and Max Williams each went yard for the Seminoles to lead off the inning.

On to the bottom of the ninth, where UNC will have to muster four runs to stave off elimination.

Florida State maintains a 7-4 lead against UNC in a College World Series elimination game Tuesday.

The Seminoles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against North Carolina, then added four more runs in the top of the fifth for a 7-1 lead.

Just as the Noles appeared in total control, the Heels, as they have done all postseason, have fought back in the bottom of the fifth. Vance Honeycutt unloaded a three-run home run that scored Alex Madera and Colby Wilkerson.

The Heels then brought the tying run to the plate with two outs after Parks Harber singled and Anthony Donofrio walked

Jackson Van De Brake then brought the Heels a little closer with a single that scored Harber and moved Donofrio to second.

Luke Stevenson now represents the go-ahead run but he grounds out up the middle to end the threat.

Still, we have a game again. 7-5 FSU after five innings.

The Florida State Seminoles took charge of the first College World Series elimination game Tuesday.

The Noles jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against North Carolina.

In the third inning, the Tar Heels were already on their third pitcher of the game. That pitcher is star reliever Dalton Pence.

It's unclear how long Pence can go, but the Heels will surely ride him as long as he's effective. That's because the loser of this game will be done for the season. The winner advances to play Tennessee again.

In the bottom of the third inning, the Tar Heels were able to scratch across one run, making the score 3-1 after 3 innings.

Both UNC and FSU have already lost to Tennessee in this tournament. Which ever team advances must then beat the Volunteers in back to back games to earn a berth in the CWS Finals.