OMAHA, Neb. — It has been 94 days since OU posted four or less hits in a game, and its offensive stall against No. 5 North Carolina came as it was on the brink of its first national title since 1994.
In Game 1 of the College World Series finals, OU (42-23) looked like the team it had been for the majority of the NCAA Tournament: a team racking up hits and blasting home runs with ease. But Game 2 was a stark contrast from the hot start.
The Sooners carried a 9.4 runs-per-game scoring average in the NCAA Tournament entering the game, but their four runs against the Tar Heels (54-13-1) brings the average down to 8.8 runs, one of just two curve breakers from the scoring onslaught over the last 11 games. UNC pitchers sophomore Ryan Lynch and freshman Caden Glauber had the Sooners’ number following the first inning that saw OU break out to an early 2-0 lead.
Despite the sluggish day offensively, head coach Skip Johnson remained optimistic that OU could pivot in Game 3 to find a more successful attack.
“We got away from our plan offensively, going pitch to pitch. We've done a really good job over the last couple of weeks with it, and we'll learn from that. And that's a good thing,” Johnson said. “They got the momentum, and they never gave it back. We faced two really good pitchers and hats off to those guys.”
The four players to record hits for OU in Game 2 were junior infielder Jaxon Willits, junior outfielder Jason Walk, senior designated hitter Trey Gambill and junior outfielder Brendan Brock. Willits also noted that the Sooners need to change their plan of attack ahead of the series finale and feels positive they will do so.
OU head coach Skip Johnson and shortstop Jaxon Willits on recovering from the #Sooners’ College World Series finals Game 2 loss.
“We have a saying, ‘Yesterday's dead,’ and I feel like it's been our motto throughout the whole year,” Willits said. “And I feel like we got to move on past today; we're going on tomorrow.”
Willits had the most success on the day against the Tar Heels pitching staff with a double that resulted in a score by junior infielder Camden Johnson. Willits became the program leader in hits in the College World Series with 10 during the Sooners’ run in Omaha, but he was unable to find success outside of the first inning.
“We're comfortable in this situation; we've proven all year long we're not going to quit,” Willits said. “We're going to fight, no matter if we're up 10-0 or down 10-0.”
Gambill was another positive voice after the loss noting that OU will likely face Glauber again on Monday, but the Sooners will be ready since the entire order saw what his arsenal has to offer.
“He is a good pitcher. (Going to) have to have a better plan tomorrow. Sure we're gonna see him, so we'll go back, make some adjustments, and come back at them,” Willits said.
Next, OU takes on UNC in a winner-take-all series finale at 6 p.m. Monday at Charles Schwab Field on ESPN.
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
