Oklahoma Sooners College World Series Final Preview vs. North Carolina: Game Notes, Broadcast Details & Stats

Game Information

- Oklahoma (41-22) vs. No. 5 seed North Carolina (53-12-1)

- Start Time: 2 p.m. CT

- Location: Charles Schwab Field, Omaha, NE

Broadcast Details

- TV: ESPN (Karl Ravech, Kyle Peterson, Chris Burke, and Kris Budden)

- Radio: Sooner Sports Network via The REF 99.3 FM/1400 AM and 107.7 The Franchise in Oklahoma and on The Varsity Network app (Toby Rowland and Carly Murray)

What You Need To Know

- The Sooners advanced to the College World Series championship series with a perfect 3-0 start in Omaha, defeating No. 7 seed Alabama 9-0 before taking two games from No. 3 seed Georgia (4-3 and 11-4).

- This marks OU’s second College World Series finals appearance in the last five years and fourth championship series berth in program history (1951, 1994, 2022, 2026).

- Oklahoma is seeking its third national title, having previously won championships in 1951 and 1994.

- A trio of freshman pitchers — Cord Rager, Xander Mercurius, and Nick Wesloski — have been key contributors in the run to the finals. Rager threw seven innings of three-hit ball with eight strikeouts against Alabama. Mercurius delivered a strong 7.1 innings of three-run ball with a career-high nine strikeouts in the first game against Georgia. Wesloski went 5.2 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts in the second matchup with the Bulldogs.

- This is Oklahoma’s 12th College World Series appearance in program history and second in the last five years at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.

- En route to the finals, the Sooners defeated three power conference champions: ACC regular season and tournament champion Georgia Tech, Big 12 regular season and tournament champion Kansas, and SEC regular season and tournament champion Georgia.

Sooners' NCAA Tournament History

- Oklahoma has now advanced to the College World Series 12 times in program history (1951, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2010, 2022, and 2026).

- This marks OU’s 43rd NCAA Tournament appearance and fifth consecutive trip. The Sooners are 110-87 all-time in NCAA postseason play and have won two national championships (1951 and 1994).

- In reaching its 12th College World Series, Oklahoma has won 15 regional titles and three Super Regionals in program history.

- The Sooners own a 21-18 all-time record at the College World Series and are 6-2 under head coach Skip Johnson.

Oklahoma's Run In Omaha

- The Oklahoma bats exploded for five home runs and freshman Nick Wesloski delivered another strong outing as the Sooners rolled to an 11-4 victory over Georgia on Wednesday to advance to the College World Series championship series.

- Dasan Harris and Jason Walk became just the second duo in Charles Schwab Field CWS history to each hit two home runs in the same game. Wesloski pitched 5.2 innings to earn his second win of the season.

- The Sooners have now won eight consecutive games.

- Freshman right-hander Xander Mercurius earned his first collegiate victory in Monday’s 4-3 win over No. 3 Georgia, throwing a career-high 7.1 innings with nine strikeouts against a potent Bulldogs lineup.

- Right-handed reliever Jackson Cleveland tossed 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up his ninth save of the year, stranding four runners and closing the door in the ninth with the tying run in scoring position.

- Brendan Brock and Jaxon Willits both went deep against Georgia starter Caden Aoki, handing the left-hander just his second loss against an SEC opponent this season.

- OU improved to 2-0 in the 2026 College World Series and needs just one more win to reach the championship series.

- In the CWS opener against Alabama, freshman left-hander Cord Rager continued his dominant postseason run with seven innings of shutout ball in a 9-0 victory.

- It was OU’s seventh shutout of the season, third in program history at the CWS, and first since 1975. It was also the largest shutout victory in a College World Series opening game since 2002.

- The Sooners recorded their sixth consecutive double-digit hit game, while Rager posted a season-best 7.0 scoreless innings and tied his career high with eight strikeouts.

Road To The CWS Final 

Georgia (Semifinals)

- The Sooners advanced to the College World Series championship series with an 11-4 victory over No. 3 seed Georgia on Wednesday.

- Nick Wesloski made just his second start of the season — both coming in the NCAA Tournament — and delivered 5.2 strong innings.

- Oklahoma has now won eight consecutive games, its longest winning streak of the season.

- Dasan Harris and Jason Walk became just the second duo in Charles Schwab Field CWS history to each hit two home runs in the same game.

- During their current winning streak, the Sooners have defeated seven top-20 teams, including five top-10 opponents.

- En route to the CWS, OU defeated three power conference champions: ACC champion Georgia Tech, Big 12 champion Kansas, and SEC champion Georgia.

- Oklahoma has now won 43 home runs in its last 16 games — nearly half of its season total of 91.

- The Sooners are 11-2 in neutral-site games this season and improved to 17-17 all-time against SEC opponents in 2026.

Georgia (Game 2)

- Xander Mercurius earned his first collegiate victory, throwing a career-high 7.1 innings with nine strikeouts in OU’s 4-3 win over Georgia.

- Right-hander Jackson Cleveland tossed 1.2 scoreless innings to earn his ninth save of the season.

- Brendan Brock and Jaxon Willits both homered off Georgia starter Caden Aoki, handing the left-hander just his second loss against an SEC opponent this season.

- Mercurius and Cord Rager have combined for 14.1 of OU’s 18 innings pitched at the CWS, going 2-0 with 17 strikeouts and only three earned runs.

Alabama (Game 1)

- Freshman left-hander Cord Rager delivered seven innings of shutout ball in OU’s 9-0 opening win over No. 7 seed Alabama.

- It was the largest shutout victory in a College World Series opener since 2002 and OU’s third shutout in CWS history (first since 1975).

- Rager tied a season high with eight strikeouts. He has now thrown at least six innings in all three of his postseason starts.

- Deiten Lachance hit his 12th home run since May 2 — the most in NCAA Division I during that span — and his fourth of the NCAA Tournament.

UP NEXT

- Game 2 of the College World Series championship series is scheduled for Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CT on ABC. If necessary, Game 3 will be Monday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.