North Carolina
Tennessee Baseball's Win Over North Carolina Different But Not Surprising | Rocky Top Insider
OMAHA, Neb. — Tennessee’s offense didn’t explode in any one inning and totaled just seven hits in its 6-1 College World Series win over North Carolina on Sunday night. In that way, the Vols’ second win in Omaha was different than what they are known for, but that doesn’t make it surprising that they knocked off the Tar Heels the way they did.
“I think it just shows how versatile we are,” right fielder Kavares Tears said postgame.
“Friday night never really giving up even though we were down however much,” left-handed pitcher Kirby Connell said. “Just worried about the next pitch and tonight was getting off to a good start and kind of never took our foot off the gas.”
How Tennessee won its College World Series opener against Florida State is what this team’s known for. Twelve runs, a late game rally and six extra-base hits. That’s what people think of when they think of this team.
And the Vols can win that way. They’ve totaled double-digits runs 30 times this season and have won three games allowing double-digit runs.
But Tennessee can also win with pitching and defense. They won four SEC regular season and tournament games scoring four or less runs. After its win over North Carolina, Tennessee now has a 10-9 record in SEC and postseason games where they scored six or less runs. That record is 10-4 if you start after the series opening loss at Auburn that’s proven to be a turning point in the season.
Both pitching and defense were on display against the Tar Heels. Drew Beam, who struggled in his first three starts this postseason, was efficient and effective in five innings of one run baseball.
“I thought Drew Beam was really, really good,” North Carolina coach Scott Berry said.
“There was conviction to it,” Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello said of Beam.
The junior’s bounce back was a great sign. Tennessee needed him to be better if they were going to win the National Championship. He delivered in his first opportunity and a second one is now looking all the more likely.
More From RTI: Tony Vitello And Hunter Ensley Update The Centerfielder’s Status
Don’t overlook the defense behind him either. No one will forget Hunter Ensley’s stellar catch running into the wall in center field in the second inning but that wasn’t the only nice play. Dean Curley, Christian Moore and Blake Burke all had impressive plays. The only defensive miscue of the whole night came on a grounder Billy Amick couldn’t corral in the fifth inning.
That’s important too. Tennessee’s defense has been sloppy the entire NCAA Tournament. Not just sloppy but “get you beat at some point” sloppy.
“The defense was outstanding on both sides,” Vitello said.
While it wasn’t the offense’s best night, it wasn’t bad either. There was the usual power surge— a Kavares Tears three-run homer that broke the tie in the fourth inning and a Reese Chapman solo shot an inning later. But there was also an ability to generate runs to help cushion the lead.
Tennessee capitalized when North Carolina walked Colby Backus on four pitches and promptly threw a wild pitch as Dean Curley drove him home with a two-out single up the middle. Another four pitch walk in the eighth inning led to a run when Dylan Dreiling singled and then Tears doubles to right field with two outs.
“Pretty good hitting too,” Ensley said. “Some clutch hits. Two-out hitting was really good so just finding different ways to win ball games.”
The win marked the first time ever that Tennessee’s won its first two games in the College World Series and the two wins came in radically different fashions. But the Vols have been winning in different ways all season and that bodes well for a team that’s a win away from advancing to their second College World Series finals in program history.
“I think we’ve won two different ways in Omaha than we have all year,” Ensley said. “That’s good for the confidence for the team.”
At least two people are dead and “several” others are injured after a “planned fight” at a North Carolina park escalated into a mass shooting, authorities said.
Police have identified several victims and suspects after Monday’s shooting at Leinbach Park near Jefferson Middle School, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department.
Authorities confirmed there were multiple victims in the shooting, but did not provide an exact number. The suspects were still at large over two hours later.
Officers were called to the park just before 10 a.m. after reports of a fight, which then escalated into multiple people shooting each other.
Area schools are not in lockdown, and classes are operating as normal, police said.
“Due to the number of people involved, efforts are ongoing to account for everyone. At this time, some of those involved in the incident are juveniles,” police said.
According to local news station WFMY, at least three people were taken to the hospital. Officials have not shared their conditions.
Police said the shooting was an isolated incident and remains under investigation.
This is a developing story
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 6-2-0, Fireball: 6
Evening: 4-1-7, Fireball: 5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-4, Fireball: 4
Evening: 8-1-5-6, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
02-21-32-35-37
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from April 19 drawing
18-26-27-31-42
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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