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OMAHA, Neb. — If UNC baseball wins its final game of the season, the Tar Heels will have their first national championship in program history.
The Tar Heels (54-13-1) and Oklahoma are playing a winner-take-all game on Monday, June 22 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), in the final game at the 2026 College World Series at Charles Schwab Field. The Sooners (42-23) are aiming for their first title since 1994. UNC lost 9-3 in Game 1 before bouncing back with a 6-2 win in Game 2 to force a Game 3.
The Heels haven't lost a series since early March. UNC hasn't settled on a starting pitcher for the winner-take-all game, but Caden Glauber's performance in Game 2 provided Scott Forbes with plenty of options in the season finale.
Here are some players to watch and a prediction for UNC vs. Oklahoma in the winner-take-all game of the 2026 College World Series national championship series.
UNC baseball hasn't settled on a starting pitcher for the winner-take-all game of the 2026 College World Series, but freshman left-hander Jackson Rose (5-0, 2.15 ERA) figures to play a key role for the Tar Heels. UNC coach Scott Forbes could decide to go with an "opener" before giving the ball to Rose, but the rookie pitched 4⅓ scoreless innings in his first CWS appearance, allowing just two hits against West Virginia. Oklahoma coach Skip Johnson said freshman right-handed pitcher Nick Wesloski (2-1, 3.63 ERA) will get the start for the Sooners. Wesloski pitched 5⅔ innings in a win against Georgia, allowing one earned run in his CWS debut. It could end up being a bullpen game for both teams, which would give the advantage to the Tar Heels on paper.
UNC's Owen Hull has two extra-base hits and two RBIs in the CWS finals and has been the Tar Heels' hottest hitter in Omaha. Oklahoma's Deiten LaChance has been that guy for the Sooners, hitting two home runs in Game 1 against the Tar Heels before going 0-for-4 in Game 2. Hull was the hero for UNC with the walk-off hit against USC that clinched the Tar Heels a trip to Omaha. LaChance has powered Oklahoma's offense throughout its red-hot run in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The player who steps up on the biggest stage in the season finale will likely be celebrating with a season-ending dogpile.
The Tar Heels ended the Sooners' hot streak in the NCAA Tournament and will carry that momentum into a final game for the national championship. Leaning on its arm barn and an opportunistic offense, UNC will win its first national title. UNC 7, Oklahoma 4
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC baseball vs Oklahoma prediction for College World Series national championship
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The Tar Heels (54-13-1) and Oklahoma are playing a winner-take-all game on Monday, June 22 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), in the final game at the 2026 College World Series at Charles Schwab Field. The Sooners (42-23) are aiming for their first title since 1994. UNC lost 9-3 in Game 1 before bouncing back with a 6-2 win in Game 2 to force a Game 3.
The Heels haven't lost a series since early March. UNC hasn't settled on a starting pitcher for the winner-take-all game, but Caden Glauber's performance in Game 2 provided Scott Forbes with plenty of options in the season finale.
Here are some players to watch and a prediction for UNC vs. Oklahoma in the winner-take-all game of the 2026 College World Series national championship series.
UNC baseball pitcher Jackson Rose, Oklahoma pitcher Nick Wesloski in spotlight at College World Series
UNC baseball hasn't settled on a starting pitcher for the winner-take-all game of the 2026 College World Series, but freshman left-hander Jackson Rose (5-0, 2.15 ERA) figures to play a key role for the Tar Heels. UNC coach Scott Forbes could decide to go with an "opener" before giving the ball to Rose, but the rookie pitched 4⅓ scoreless innings in his first CWS appearance, allowing just two hits against West Virginia. Oklahoma coach Skip Johnson said freshman right-handed pitcher Nick Wesloski (2-1, 3.63 ERA) will get the start for the Sooners. Wesloski pitched 5⅔ innings in a win against Georgia, allowing one earned run in his CWS debut. It could end up being a bullpen game for both teams, which would give the advantage to the Tar Heels on paper.
Owen Hull, Deiten LaChance are key hitters for Tar Heels, Sooners in CWS
UNC's Owen Hull has two extra-base hits and two RBIs in the CWS finals and has been the Tar Heels' hottest hitter in Omaha. Oklahoma's Deiten LaChance has been that guy for the Sooners, hitting two home runs in Game 1 against the Tar Heels before going 0-for-4 in Game 2. Hull was the hero for UNC with the walk-off hit against USC that clinched the Tar Heels a trip to Omaha. LaChance has powered Oklahoma's offense throughout its red-hot run in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The player who steps up on the biggest stage in the season finale will likely be celebrating with a season-ending dogpile.
UNC baseball vs Oklahoma prediction in College World Series national championship
The Tar Heels ended the Sooners' hot streak in the NCAA Tournament and will carry that momentum into a final game for the national championship. Leaning on its arm barn and an opportunistic offense, UNC will win its first national title. UNC 7, Oklahoma 4
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC baseball vs Oklahoma prediction for College World Series national championship
Continue reading...
