OMAHA, NEB. - In just under a hour, North Carolina will take the field against Rice in a crucial matchup in the College World Series.

If the Tar Heels win, they don’t play again until Wednesday needing only one win in two tries to advance to the College World Series. If they lose, they have to win three-in-a-row starting Tuesday against Louisville to get back to the finals.

Without further adieu, her’es a look at three key factors in tonights game.

1. Joe Savery vs. the UNC lefties. This is the second consecutive game the Tar Heels have faced a left-handed pitcher, and UNC’s ability to get its left-handed batters going could decided their fate. Against South Carolina’s Arik Hempy in the supers, Tar Heel lefties really struggled, and so did UNC. Friday against MSU’s left-hander, North Carolina was able to hit the ball better, but Savery is one of the best pitchers - right or left-handed - the Tar Heels have faced all year.

2. Will the real Alex White please stand up? What’s it going to be, will we see the Alex
White who dominated Virginia in the ACC Tournament, or will we see the White that’s allowed 12 runs combined in his past two starts. If White can last six innings, that will give UNC’s bullpen some much needed rest.

3. The end of the comeback kids? It’s gotta end sometime. North Carolina can’t keep spotting good teams early runs, and then storming back to win the game. Coach Mike Fox said after the Mississippi State win Friday that it will catch up with them eventually, and if the Tar Heels play the same game against Rice, tonight could be that night. Rice boasts a solid bullpen featuring Cole St. Clair, one of the most dominating closers in the nation. It’s critical that North Carolina puts early pressure on the other team for a change.

-David Ely

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