UNC baseball bounces back, tops Oklahoma to force NCAA title game Monday night
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- UNC beat Oklahoma 6-2 in Game 2 to force a winner-take-all Game 3 Monday night.
- Erik Paulsen went 3-for-5 with a double and a run in his best postseason performance.
- Freshman Caden Glauber struck out eight and allowed one hit over five relief innings.
It felt like destiny for North Carolina, and like a sign from dad for first baseman Erik Paulsen.
Paulsen scampered across home plate after third baseman Cooper Nicholson hit his 17th home run of the season on Sunday in Game 2 of the Men’s College World Series finals in Omaha.
The duo scored the Tar Heels’ fifth and sixth runs of the game and celebrated with left fielder Tyler Howe at home plate. Nicholson’s homer put the team up four runs, effectively pushing the game out of reach for red-hot Oklahoma (42-23).
No. 5 UNC used two multi-run innings and plate discipline to defeat the Sooners, 6-2, snapping OU’s nine-game winning streak and forcing a winner-take-all Game 3. They will play at 7 p.m. Monday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha with the national championship on the line.
UNC will be playing for its first national title, Oklahoma last won it all in 1994.
Nicholson had been without a home run since the NCAA Tournament opener against VCU. It came at the right time.
“This is what it’s all about,” said Carolina head coach Scott Forbes. “This is why you work so hard — to play in a night game, national championship game. We’re excited about that opportunity. We feel like it’s an honor and a privilege to be in that moment.”
And, on Paulsen’s first Father’s Day without his dad — 13 days before the first anniversary of his father’s death — the Stony Brook transfer played a big role in making sure UNC still had a chance to lift the trophy.
“It meant a lot, seeing my mom in the stands with my siblings and my dad’s mom, my grandma, she was also in the stands today,” Paulsen said. “It’s really awesome seeing them out there. Obviously, very emotional, but I was really glad that we got the win today. I can’t wait to go out there tomorrow.”
The junior led the Carolina (54-13-1) lineup, going 3 for 5 at the plate, with a double and one run scored. Paulsen also provided aggressive base running and stalwart defense at first. It was his best overall performance of the postseason.
Paulsen’s late father was a detective in New York and among the first responders during 9/11. He died on July 4, 2025, due to throat cancer. Doctors attributed the disease to the time he spent working at Ground Zero. His teammates’ fathers wore buttons with Paulsen’s name and number to honor the family. Paulsen admitted he “lost it” in the dugout after a few postgame interviews.
Forbes teared up when asked about his first baseman, who joined the team last summer.
“Today’s a tough day for a lot of people, and it was a tough day for him, but it was a little less tough, I think, because he knew of his (father’s) presence,” Forbes said. “He knew he was with him, and he knows he has a lot of guys in there that are there for him. … Life’s hard, baseball’s not. I’m just thankful that he’s been in my presence, because he’s been way stronger than I would have been probably at that age. I love him like a son. Hopefully he feels that.”
Carolina comes back after early deficit
North Carolina had to work from behind, despite what the score might indicate.
Oklahoma freshman Xander Mercurius earned his fifth start of the season and threw lights out from first pitch. The right-hander threw six straight strikes in the top of the first. Mercurius also struck out six of the first seven batters, giving him at least six strikeouts in all five career starts.
After Carolina recorded four hits in the first inning on Saturday, Mercurius held the Tar Heels to one hit through the first two.
The Sooner Schooner came to a screeching halt in the third. North Carolina dominated Mercurius, and the Oklahoma defense, its second time through the lineup.
“They jumped on us quick,” Forbes said. “Our guys did a great job of just putting their head down and not panicking. We talk about it all the time, being process-oriented, next-play mentality, just play every pitch. When you look up, whatever happens, happens. We did a good job of that.”
Right fielder Carter French started the rally with a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position when designated hitter Rom Kellis knocked in a single off the shortstop’s glove. Both players scored, tying the game at 2-2, when UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner tripled to right field, his hit falling just inside fair territory and rolling to the corner.
Schaffner crossed home plate on a wild pitch as Mercurius and catcher Deiten LaChance miscommunicated on the attempted force out.
French did not officially record an at-bat but drew a walk on all four plate appearances.
UNC stayed patient at the plate and loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch and single. The Heels, however, ended the inning with consecutive swinging strikeouts to strand the runners.
Mercurius, who cruised early, threw 50 pitches in the third. He retired the Carolina batters in order the subsequent inning but ultimately exited the game in the top of the fifth after UNC center fielder Owen Hull hit a solo home run.
The rest of the Sooner bullpen — Oklahoma used six relievers in the loss — struggled to keep the Tar Heels off base, but the defense limited the damage.
Poised pitching settles Carolina
Sophomore Ryan Lynch started the game on the mound and exited in the bottom of the fifth inning. He was midway through OU second baseman Kyle Branch’s at bat when he departed. Lynch expressed discomfort during a mound visit with Forbes and a member of the athletic training staff.
The right-hander gave up two runs and two hits in the first four batters. Through the next 13, Lynch gave up one hit and notched four strikeouts. He finished with five strikeouts and a pair of free passes.
Forbes said Lynch’s oblique tightened throughout the game. The staff will evaluate Lynch and see how to move forward, hoping the solution is as simple as additional hydration.
“My job is to take care of him, and I didn’t want to hurt it,” Forbes said. “I’ve seen things like that tear. I just made that decision to not let him throw anymore, or even try to throw anymore, because he’s a power pitcher. He sits 95 to 98. And that last pitch, I think, was 92 or 93. He was backing off the gas a little bit. I just wanted to protect him.”
Freshman Caden Glauber entered the game in relief and immediately struck out all three batters. He finished with eight strikeouts, while allowing one hit over five innings of work. Glauber moved to 12-0 this season, and Carolina is now 28-0 when the rookie makes an appearance.
“It’s pretty easy to go out there with the defense you have and the offense you have,” Glauber said. “Working with Coach (Bryant) Gaines and just throwing what he calls. He works so hard behind the scenes to know what type of pitch to throw in whatever count you’re in. It looked pretty challenging, I guess, but with the defense we have and the team that we have, it was pretty easy.”
This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 6:04 PM.
