OU falls to North Carolina 6-2 in Game 2 of the College World Series finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Sooners (42-23) are looking to win their first College World Series championship since 1994, while the Tar Heels (54-13-1) are looking for their first in program history.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
North Carolina capitalizes on early mistakes
Freshman pitcher Xander Mercurius had the dream start to Game 2, striking out the side in the first inning and picking up three more strikeouts in the second. North Carolina was able to adjust in the third inning, and things went sideways for Mercurius and the Sooners.
Nine Tar Heels took the plate in the top of the third inning, and the lengthy inning turned into three runs on four hits, with three batters reaching base by a walk or being hit by a pitch. Two errors, one pitching and one fielding, occurred in the inning, resulting in junior infielder Jake Schaffner stealing home on a wild pitch by Mercurius.
UNC kept the pressure on throughout the game, scoring three more times, including two home runs, which ultimately sealed the Sooners' fate and forced a third game in the championship series.
OU head coach Skip Johnson and shortstop Jaxon Willits on recovering from the #Sooners’ College World Series finals Game 2 loss.
Sooners ice-cold after hot start
OU took an early 2-0 lead against the Tar Heels, but it was short-lived, as just two innings later, UNC scored three runs and never relinquished the lead.
The Sooners had their worst outing on the plate of the NCAA Tournament, posting just four hits on the day. Their previous worst outing on the plate came on May 30 when the Sooners posted three runs on six hits in a 9-3 loss to No. 2 overall seed Georgia Tech (50-11). Notably, that was the last time OU lost a game in the NCAA Tournament as they built a season-high nine-game winning-streak entering Sunday's game.
Junior infielder Jaxon Willits posted the best batting performance for the Sooners on the day with a double and batting in a run. Other Sooners that registered hits were junior outfielder Jason Walk (one), senior designated hitter Trey Gambill (one) and junior outfielder Brendan Brock (one).
OU enters new territory in Game 3
Last time OU made the College World Series finals in 2022, the team was swept 2-0 by Mississippi. In the Sooners' trips to Omaha in 1994 and 1951, the format was different than it now, as it was a double-elimination bracket with a single championship game.
The Sooners have played the same opponent three times in the 2026 NCAA Tournament just once, in the Atlanta Regional against Georgia Tech. OU fell in the first meeting but surged in the teams next two outings, finishing off the Yellow Jackets with a walk-off home run by senior infielder Dayton Tockey to send the team to the super regional round.
Next, OU takes on UNC in a winner-take-all series finale at 6 p.m. Monday at Charles Schwab Field on ESPN.
Live updates:
Short leash on Mason Bixby
Sooners pull junior pitcher Mason Bixby after 0.2 innings. They go to graduate student Reid Hensley and sophomore Jaden Barfield after him.
Sooners go to Mason Bixby on the mound
OU switches to junior pitcher Mason Bixby after 1.1 innings of work from Redshirt junior pitcher Nate Smithburg. Smithburg finishes with two strikeouts.
North Carolina with two-run homer
Highlight: Junior infielder Cooper Nicholson blasts a two-run homer.
Score: North Carolina 6-2 OU
Inning: Top of seventh
Nate Smithburg enters for Sooners
Smithburg enters for OU out of the bullpen after junior pitcher Jason Bodin's 1.1 innings of work. Bodin finishes the day with two strikeouts.
North Carolina pitching change
Tar Heel sophomore pitcher Ryan Lynch exits after two pitches in the bottom of the fifth inning due to injury. Freshman pitcher Caden Glauber enters the game, with North Carolina going into Sunday with a 28-0 record when he is on the mound, whether starting or in relief, according to Tulsa World's Mason Young.
Glauber was the ACC freshman of the year and Perfect Game's co-freshman pitcher of the year.
OU pitching change
Sooners switch to Bodin after four innings and 92 pitches from freshman Xander Mercurius on the mound.
Owen Hull solo homer for North Carolina
Highlight: Junior outfielder Owen Hull blasts a solo homer.
Score: North Carolina 4-2 OU
Inning: Top of fifth
3rd inning OU pitching update
Mercurius deals two important strikeouts to close the third inning. He allowed three runs in the third but could have given up more, as the Tar Heels had the bases loaded with one out.
The freshman walks out of the third inning with eight strikeouts so far in the game.
Tar Heels take lead
Highlight: Junior Jake Schaffner scores a run.
Score: North Carolina 3-2 OU
Inning: Top of third
Tar Heels tie game
Highlight: Schaffner bats in senior outfielder Carter French and senior catcher Rom Kellis V.
Score: OU 2-2 North Carolina
Inning: Top of third
Xander Mercurius 2nd inning update
Mercurius has thrown six strikeouts in two innings so far, including striking out the side in the first.
Camden Johnson extends lead for Sooners
Highlight: Junior infielder Camden Johnson scores a run with junior infielder Jaxon Willits batting him in. That is Willits' 10th hit of the College World Series, marking a new school record.
Score: OU 2-0 North Carolina
Inning: Bottom of first
Jason Walk scores early run
Highlight: Junior outfielder Jason Walk crosses home plate after speeding from second.
Score: OU 1-0 North Carolina
Inning: Bottom of first
