Oklahoma Storms Past North Carolina To Claim Title
PUBLISHED Jun 23, 2026, 12:10 AM ET
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OMAHA, Neb. — Oklahoma defeated North Carolina 13-2 in Game 3 of the College World Series finals on Monday night, securing its first national championship since 1994 at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. LJ Mercurius provided a key bullpen performance and the Sooners produced an early offensive onslaught to decide the winner-take-all contest. This victory gives Oklahoma a 43-23 season record and extends the Southeastern Conference's College World Series championship streak to seven consecutive titles. North Carolina finished 54-14-1 as runner-up for the third time since 2006. Kyle Branch drove in six runs, Jaxon Willits finished the series 13-for-25 (.520), and official records list Oklahoma as 2024 national champions.
By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- 1994 — Oklahoma previously won its most recent national baseball championship.
- Regular season — Oklahoma finished 11th in conference play before postseason.
- Pre-tournament — Oklahoma entered the NCAA Tournament after losing seven of nine games.
- CWS Game 2 — Oklahoma lost 6-2 while managing only four singles.
- CWS Game 3 (Monday night) — Oklahoma won 13-2 in Omaha to clinch the title.
News Intelligence
- Oklahoma's win is a comeback story. They entered the tournament after losing seven of nine games. Yet, they clinched the national title. This shows the power of resilience and determination. If you're facing a challenging situation, remember Oklahoma's journey.
- Articles Published:
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- Distribution:
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The University of Oklahoma baseball program, its players, coaches, university community, SEC conference profile, and related stakeholders benefited from increased recognition, recorded championship status, and a boost to program prestige following the 13-2 title game victory.
The University of North Carolina baseball program, its players, coaches, and fans suffered the immediate loss of the College World Series final and the continuation of a championship drought despite a 54-14-1 season performance.
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Oklahoma Storms Past North Carolina To Claim Title
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