After getting knocked down hard Friday in a 16-run defeat, Arizona fought back Saturday at North Carolina and responded with a 10-8 victory, forcing a decisive Game 3 of the best-of-three Chapel Hill Super Regional.
Arizona (43-19) will play the fifth-seeded Tar Heels (46-14) on Sunday at 9 a.m. Freshman right-hander Smith Bailey (3-3, 3.97 ERA) will be Arizona’s starter against a pitcher to be determined.
The winner advances to Omaha, Neb., for the College World Series.
The Wildcats answered a North Carolina rally every time in Saturday’s win that included 16 hits by Chip Hale’s club.
North Carolina took a 2-1 lead – Arizona tied it at 2 in the bottom of the second.
The Tar Heels led 4-2 in the fourth – Arizona tied it again in the bottom half of the inning.
North Carolina rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh – Arizona countered with four runs to take the 10-8 lead.
“Just a great ball game,” Arizona coach Chip Hale said. “Hard fought. I’m just really, really proud of the group. These guys are very resilient.”
Arizona took the 10-8 lead on a two-out, two-run single by Maddox Mihalakis.
The teams combined for 28 hits and 18 runs.
The Tar Heels gave up season-high totals with the 10 runs and 16 hits against the Wildcats, who scored in six of the first seven innings.
Brendan Summerhill lined an RBI double to left field to pull Arizona within 8-7 in the seventh inning. Walker McDuffie’s wild pitch allowed Arizona to plate the game-tying run before Mihalakis’ hit.
Pluta (3-0) got the win pitching the last 2 1/3 innings, a career-high total in a game.
“This team just wants to keep playing,” Pluta said. “We want to keep going. That dream of Omaha. We’re chasing five (championships). We just want to keep going.”
Tommy Splaine hit a home run and had two RBIs.
Aaron Walton had three hits and an RBI and Mihalakis had three RBIs.
