Oklahoma Baseball Faces North Carolina in CWS Championship Series

Oklahoma (41-22) will face No. 5 seed North Carolina (53-12-1) in the best-of-three College World Series Championship Series starting Saturday at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Sooners advanced to the finals after a 3-0 start in Omaha, including victories over Alabama and No. 3 Georgia.

The Sooners are seeking their third national title, having previously won in 1951 and 1994. This marks Oklahoma’s fourth championship appearance all-time and their second in the last five years, according to program records.

Oklahoma entered the finals following an 11-4 win over Georgia on Wednesday. That victory capped an eight-game winning streak, the longest of the season for the Sooners.

Did You Know? Brothers Kyle Branch of Oklahoma and Kolby Branch of Georgia squared off in the first instance of brothers playing against one another in a College World Series game.

How did Oklahoma reach the CWS finals?

Oklahoma secured its spot in the championship series by going 3-0 in Omaha. The run began with a 9-0 shutout of seven-seed Alabama last Saturday, which was the largest opening-game shutout in the CWS since 2002.

The Sooners then defeated No. 3 seed Georgia twice, with scores of 4-3 and 11-4. Throughout the NCAA postseason, Oklahoma has defeated the regular season and tournament champions from the ACC (Georgia Tech), Big 12 (Kansas), and SEC (Georgia).

Offensively, the team has been aggressive. Oklahoma hit 26 home runs across 10 NCAA Tournament games and 43 home runs in its last 16 contests.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that Oklahoma’s reliance on a freshman pitching rotation represents a high-risk, high-reward strategy that has paid off. By leaning on inexperienced arms to shut down established conference champions, the Sooners have created a momentum shift that could potentially carry them to a third national title.

Who are the key players for the Sooners?

Freshman pitchers have anchored the rotation. Cord Rager, Xander Mercurius, and Nick Wesloski started every CWS game thus far, combining for 20 innings and allowing only four earned runs.

Rager recorded seven shutout innings and eight strikeouts against Alabama. Mercurius earned his first collegiate win against Georgia, pitching 7.1 innings with nine strikeouts. Wesloski went 5.2 innings against Georgia, allowing one earned run.

The bats have been led by left-handed hitters. In the final game against Georgia, all five home runs and 11 RBIs came from lefties, including Jason Walk and Dasan Harris, who both hit two home runs in that single contest.

What is the schedule for the Championship Series?

Game 1 begins Saturday at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

Oklahoma & North Carolina On To the CWS Championship Series | College World Series Day 6 Recap

If a third game is necessary to determine the champion, it will take place Monday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. Radio coverage is available via The REF 99.3 FM/1400 AM and 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma, as well as the Varsity Network app.

Oklahoma enters the series with 41 wins, which is the fewest for a championship team since the 2022 Ole Miss squad. Under head coach Skip Johnson, the Sooners hold a 6-2 record at the College World Series.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the CWS Championship Series start?
The series begins Saturday at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN.

How many national championships has Oklahoma won?
Oklahoma has won two national titles, in 1951 and 1994.

Which teams did Oklahoma defeat to reach the finals?
The Sooners beat Alabama and No. 3 Georgia during their 3-0 start in Omaha.

Do you think a freshman-led pitching rotation can hold up against North Carolina in a best-of-three series?