A 3-run homer by Jackson Van De Brake gave North Carolina a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning, following consecutive singles from Carter French and Kane Kepley. Arizona starter Smith Bailey was charged with those three runs with five hits allowed, four strikeouts and three walks in six innings.

UNC carried a 3-1 lead into the eighth inning after seven strong innings from freshman starting pitcher Ryan Lynch, who allowed one run on three hits in the first seven innings before Arizona chased him with a single and an error in the eighth.