Omaha, NE – Brian Holberton hit a two-run homer in the first inning to back seven strong frames from freshman Trent Thornton, as North Carolina moved on with a 4-2 decision over LSU in action at the 2013 College World Series on Tuesday.
Colin Moran added three hits, an RBI and scored twice for the top-seeded Tar Heels, who advance to take on the winner of Tuesday's NC State/UCLA matchup in an elimination game on Thursday.
Thornton picked up the win after allowing two runs on nine hits and shaking off four walks.
Mason Katz walked three times and collected two hits, including an RBI single, for the Tigers, who had lost to UCLA on Sunday to reach the losers bracket. Sean McMullen scored both LSU runs.
Cody Glenn was yanked two batters into the third inning, charged in the loss with five hits and three runs.
Already up 2-0 thanks to Holberton's blast, Landon Lassiter doubled for UNC to start the third and Moran followed with a single that plated him and chased Glenn from the mound.
Katz drove in McMullen to get LSU on the board in the home fifth, but Skye Bolt's seventh-inning run-scoring single restored UNC's three-run edge.
McMullen doubled to start the home half and eventually came around on a double-play grounder from Alex Bregman, but Chris McCue subbed for Thornton -- who had thrown 114 pitches -- and tossed two scoreless frames to wrap up the victory for the Tar Heels.
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