OU defeated North Carolina 13-2 Monday in the College World Series winner-takes-all Game 3 of the finals at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Sooners (43-23) won their first College World Series championship since 1994 and only their third in program history. Their power at the plate showed little mercy Monday, recording 14 hits against No. 5 overall seed North Carolina (54-14-1).
Here are takeaways:
Offensive chaos
The Sooners’ at bats shined with their chaotic style of offense Monday.
They scored three runs in the fourth alone, firmly taking the momentum of the game in a single inning. OU went into the inning up three, ahead in the game but not comfortably, and came out of it with a 6-1 lead. Sophomore infielder Kyle Branch scored, with junior catcher Deiten Lachance being walked, the fourth Sooner in a row at the time. Junior infielder Jaxon Willits followed with hitting a two-run single.
Chaos ensued more in the eighth inning when Branch blasted a three-run homer, only his fourth on the season. It marked his sixth run batted in of the game, easily a team high. The homer also followed junior outfielder Dasan Harris batting in the Sooners’ 10th run.
Tockey time returns
Senior infielder Dayton Tockey’s power at the plate returned in the Sooners’ biggest game of the season.
Tockey became a star earlier in the NCAA Tournament. His best highlight of the tournament remains to be hitting a walk-off homer against No. 2 overall seed Georgia Tech (50-11) in the winner-take-all regional final.
His power dulled out in Omaha until he hit a homer in Game 3 of the finals.
Unforeseen run
The Sooners’ kept embodying their “Yesterday is dead” mantra en route to an unlikely national championship.
OU went through the regular season with a 14-16 conference record and entered the Southeastern Conference tournament as a No. 11 seed. They fell out of the conference tournament after one series, losing to LSU (30-28). However, behind resilience and belief, they went on a 11-2 run to win their first College World Series championship in 32 years.
“We have a saying, ‘Yesterday's dead,’ and I feel like it's been our motto throughout the whole year,” Willits said after the Sooners’ Game 2 loss in the finals. “And I feel like we got to move on past today; we're going on tomorrow.”
OU proved Willits’ words to be correct, dominating the Tar Heels behind an onslaught of runs.
Live updates:
Kyle Branch blasts homer
Highlight: Sophomore infielder Kyle Branch hits a three-run homer for the Sooners.
Score: OU 13-2 North Carolina
Inning: Top of eighth
Dasan Harris bats another in for Sooners
Highlight: Junior outfielder Dasan Harris bats another run for the Sooners.
Score: OU 10-2 North Carolina
Inning: Top of eighth
UNC adds 1 more
Highlight: Freshman infielder Jadyn Nunez crosses home plate.
Score: OU 9 -2 North Carolina
Inning: Bottom of seventth
Kyle Branch helps OU add 2 more
Highlight: Branch hits a two-run single.
Score: OU 9 -1 North Carolina
Inning: Top of sixth
Tockey time
Highlight: Senior infielder Dayton Tockey blasts a solo homer.
Score: OU 7 -1 North Carolina
Inning: Top of fifth
Jaxon Willits helps Sooners put up 2 more
Highlight: Junior infielder Jaxon Willits hits a two-run single.
Score: OU 6 -1 North Carolina
Inning: Top of fourth
OU builds onto the lead
Highlight: Junior catcher Deiten Lachance was the fourth Sooner walked in a row, leading to sophomore infielder Kyle Branch scoring.
Score: OU 4 -1 North Carolina
Inning: Top of fourth
UNC pitching change
The Tar Heels took out sophomore pitcher Walker McDuffie after throwing 25 pitches across the third and fourth innings. UNC put in freshman pitcher Caden Glauber, who the Tar Heels entered Monday with a 29-0 when he is on th mound.
Sooner pitching change
The Sooners took out freshman pitcher Nick Wesloski after two innings and one out, putting in junior pitcher LJ Mercurius.
UNC gets on the board
Highlight: Junior infielder Jake Schaffner crosses home plate, with junior infielder Gavin Gallaher batting him in.
Score: OU 3 -1 North Carolina
Inning: Bottom of third
Jaxon Willits tacks on more for OU
Highlight: Willits scores a run, with designated hitter Brendan Brock batting him in.
Score: OU 3 -0 North Carolina
Inning: Top of third
Dasan Harris with great defensive play for OU
Junior outfielder Dasan Harris gets senior outfielder Carter French out before the Tar Heels score a run on a single to right field at the end of the second inning.
OU expands early lead
Highlight: Senior infielder Dayton Tockey scores a run after a wild pitch.
Score: OU 2 -0 North Carolina
Inning: Top of second
Sooners take 2nd inning lead
Highlight: Junior outfielder Dasan Harris crosses home plate, with sophomore infielder Kyle Branch batting him in.
Score: OU 1 -0 North Carolina
Inning: Top of second
OU designated hitter switch
The Sooners have decided to switch from senior outfielder Trey Gambill to Brock for their designated hitter in Game 3.
