Oklahoma Blows Out North Carolina 13-2 to Capture First CWS Title Since 1994

The ultimate underdog story of the 2026 college baseball season has reached its glorious, crimson-tinted peak. On Monday night at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, the Oklahoma Sooners completed one of the most improbable postseason runs in college sports history. Behind a relentless 14-hit explosion and lockdown bullpen execution, Oklahoma routed the No. 5 national seed North Carolina Tar Heels 13-2 in a winner-take-all Game 3 to capture the 2026 Men’s College World Series national championship.

The victory marks Oklahoma’s third national baseball title in program history and its very first since 1994, ending a 32-year drought in definitive, grand fashion. It also secures the Southeastern Conference’s (SEC) seventh consecutive national championship on the diamond.

From 11th in the SEC to Top of the Mountain

To understand the magnitude of Oklahoma’s triumph, you have to look at where this team sat just one month ago. Picked to finish 14th in the 16-team SEC in the preseason, the Sooners sputtered to an 11th-place finish in the conference and entered the NCAA Tournament having lost seven of their last nine games.

But when the calendar turned to June, Skip Johnson’s squad transformed into an absolute juggernaut, winning nine of their 13 tournament games by blowout margins.

CWS Most Outstanding Player Jaxon Willits: “I think we knew the talent was always in the room. We got hot at the right time, and now we’re national champions.”

How Game 3 Was Won: The Crimson Onslaught

While Game 2 was a low-scoring, tense affair, Game 3 was an absolute clinic by the Oklahoma offense, which scored runs in five consecutive innings to systematically pull away from the Tar Heels.

1. The Kyle Branch and Jaxon Willits Show

Oklahoma’s offensive attack was spearheaded by an unforgettable performance from No. 9 hitter Kyle Branch and shortstop Jaxon Willits.

• Branch’s Career Night: Branch went 3-for-4 at the plate, single-handedly driving in six runs. His night was punctuated by a towering, three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning that put the final exclamation point on the blowout.
• Willits’ Catalyst Play: Willits also turned in a 3-for-4 performance with a double, two walks, and two RBIs, setting the table beautifully all evening and earning tournament MOP honors.

2. Dasan Harris’ Momentum-Shifting Cannon

Before the game turned into a rout, North Carolina threatened to mount a serious rally in the bottom of the second inning down 2-0. With runners on, UNC’s Rom Kellis smoked a shot into right field. It looked like Erik Paulsen would score easily from second, but Oklahoma right fielder Dasan Harris unleashed an absolute missile to third base, nailing Carter French for the third out before Paulsen could cross home plate. The defensive masterclass completely sucked the wind out of UNC’s sails and preserved the early momentum.

3. The Relentless Relief of LJ Mercurius

After freshman starter Nick Wesloski was chased with one out in the third inning, star reliever LJ Mercurius (7-7) stepped onto the mound and slammed the door. Mercurius threw 5.2 brilliant innings of relief, scattering five hits and allowing just one run while striking out five Tar Heels to earn the championship win. Closer Jackson Cleveland completed the job in the ninth, striking out the side to ignite the dogpile near third base.

Game 3 Line Score

Pitching: W: LJ Mercurius (7-7) | L: Jackson Rose (5-1)

Cruel Ending for the Tar Heels

For North Carolina, the loss brings a heartbreaking end to an otherwise magnificent 54-win season. The Tar Heels have now made 13 overall trips to the College World Series without ever winning the title, trailing only Florida State (24) for the most appearances without a national crown.

Desperate to stop the bleeding in the fourth inning down 3-1, UNC coach Scott Forbes went to the well one too many times with freshman phenom Caden Glauber. Glauber, who had thrown 65 pitches in a brilliant five-inning save just 24 hours prior to force Game 3, was noticeably fatigued. He committed a clock violation before his first pitch, walked the bases loaded, walked in a run, and surrendered a two-run single to Willits. He was pulled after just seven pitches, and the Tar Heels’ historic 29-0 record when Glauber pitches finally suffered its first—and most painful—blemish.

“We ran out of gas when all is said and done,” a somber Forbes said postgame. “While we’re sad, the sadness will go away… These guys have given me, our coaching staff, our fans, a ton of joy and a ton to be proud of.”

But the night belonged to Norman, Oklahoma. Left for dead in May, the Sooners played flawless, aggressive baseball when it mattered most, returning home to Oklahoma as the undisputed kings of the college baseball world.