By R.L. Bynum
It will be a rematch between top-ranked UNC and Oklahoma, with the Tar Heels a win away from hosting the Super Regionals.
The Tar Heels (44–12) blew out the Sooners 11–5 on Saturday night to force Oklahoma into an elimination game Sunday afternoon against Nebraska. The Sooners took out their frustrations on the Cornhuskers in a 17–1 victory to advance to a 6:06 p.m. rematch with UNC (ESPN3) after a little less than three hours of rest.
Catcher Easton Carmichael hit two home runs, one that traveled 414 feet and went over the scoreboard in left field, as the Sooners pounded out 18 hits. Oklahoma starting pitcher Cade Crossland allowed the Sooners to use only one reliever by throwing 107 pitches over seven innings, giving up only five hits, one run and two walks while striking out nine. Michael Catalano pitched the final two innings.
UNC advances to the Super Regionals with a victory, and Oklahoma will force a deciding game on Monday if the Sooners win.
Carolina will start senior right-hander Aidan Haugh (5–4, 3.74 ERA), and will have most of its high-leverage relievers rested. Freshman right-hander Walker McDuffie hasn’t pitched since Friday, and freshman right-hander Ryan Lynch only threw 13 pitches Saturday night.
Oklahoma coach Skip Johnson said that he didn’t know who his starting pitcher would be against UNC.
If Carolina wins the regional, the best-of-three Super Regionals series would start at Boshamer Stadium on Friday. The opposition will come from the Eugene Regional, where the remaining teams are Utah Valley (33–28), Cal Poly (42–18) and Arizona (41–18).
Oklahoma 17, Nebraska 1
Chapel Hill Regional
At Boshamer Stadium
Friday’s results
No. 1 North Carolina 4, Holy Cross 0
No. 2 Oklahoma 7, No. 3 Nebraska 4
Saturday’s results
Nebraska 4, Holy Cross 1; Holy Cross eliminated
North Carolina 11, Oklahoma 5
Sunday’s games
Oklahoma 17, Nebraska 1; Nebraska eliminated
North Carolina (44–12) vs. Oklahoma (37–21), 6:06 p.m., ESPN+
Monday’s game
Deciding game if UNC loses Sunday, time, TV TBD
Winner advances to Super Regional against the winner of the Eugene Regional. No. 1 regional seed and No. 12 overall seed Oregon has been eliminated, so the winner will be Utah Valley (33–28), Cal Poly (42–18) or Arizona (41–18). UNC would host should it advance.
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Time/ score | Opponent (current rank) | TV/ record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | ||||
| 14–15 | Fri.-Sat. | W, 5–1; W, 8–3; W, 4–2 | vs. Texas Tech | 3–0 |
| 18 | Tuesday | W, 12–9 | vs. Kansas State | 4–0 |
| 22–24 | Sat.-Mon. | W, 2–0; W, 11–6; W, 6–4 | vs. East Carolina (DBAP, CH, G’ville) | 7–0 |
| 25 | Tuesday | W, 7–4 | vs. VCU | 8–0 |
| 26 | Wednesday | W, 13–4 | vs. N.C. A&T | 9–0 |
| 28 | Friday | W, 16–2 | vs. Stony Brook | 10–0 |
| March | ||||
| 1–2 | Sat.-Sun. | W, 6–1; W, 9–5 | vs. Stony Brook | 12–0 |
| 4 | Tuesday | W, 6–4 (11) | vs. No. 11 Coastal Carolina | 13–0 |
| 7–9 | Fri.-Sun. | L, 13–9; W, 11–1 (7); L, 7–0 | vs. Stanford | 14–2, 1–2 ACC |
| 11 | Tuesday | W, 7–3 (10) | at UNCW | 15–2 |
| 14, 16 | Fri., Sun. | L, 8–7; W, 6–4; L, 5–0 | at Louisville | 16–4, 2–4 |
| 19 | Wednesday | L, 5–1 | vs. UConn | 16–5 |
| 21–23 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 5–1; L, 3–2; W, 10–0 (7) | at Boston College | 18–6, 4–5 |
| 25 | Tuesday | W, 13–8 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte | 19–7 |
| 28–30 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 2–0; W, 4–2; L, 4–2 | vs. Miami | 21–7, 6–6 |
| April | ||||
| 1 | Tuesday | W, 11–1 (7) | vs. Gardner-Webb | 22–7 |
| 3–5 | Thur.-Sat. | W, 4–3; L, 9–5; W, 8–7 (14) | vs. Duke | 24–8, 8–7 |
| 8 | Tuesday | W, 12–10 | at Elon | 25–8 |
| 11–13 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 11–1 (7); W, 17–1 (7); W, 3–2 | vs. Wake Forest | 28–8, 11–7 |
| 15 | Tuesday | W, 14–4 (8) | vs. Charlotte | 29–8 |
| 18–20 | Fri-Sun. | W, 9–6; L, 10–6: W, 7–5 | at Virginia Tech | 31–9, 13–8 |
| 25–27 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 15–5; L, 4–2; W, 6–0 | at Pittsburgh | 33–10, 15–9 |
| 29 | Tuesday | W, 13–4 | vs. George Mason | 34–10 |
| 30 | Wednesday | W, 14–3 | vs. Queens | 35–10 |
| May | ||||
| 6 | Tuesday | W, 10–1 | vs. Campbell | 36–10 |
| 8–9 | Thurs.-Fri. | W, 8–1; L, 8–5 | vs. N.C. State | 37–11, 16–10 |
| 15–17 | Thurs.-Sat. | W, 8–3; W, 11–1 (7); L, 5–4 | at No. 7 Florida State | 39–12, 18–11 |
| ACC tournament | Durham | |||
| 23 | Friday | Quarterfinal: W, 7–3 | Boston College | 40–12 |
| 24 | Saturday | Semifinal: W, 7–5 | No. 7 Florida State | 41–12 |
| 25 | Sunday | Final: W, 14–4 | No. 14 Clemson | 42–12 |
| Chapel Hill Regional | ||||
| 30 | Friday | W, 4–0 | Holy Cross | 43–12 |
| 31 | Saturday | W, 11–5 | Oklahoma | 44–12 |
| June | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | 6:06 p.m. | Oklahoma | ESPN+ |
| Super Regional | Chapel Hill (if UNC advances) | |||
| 6–8 | Fri.–Sun. | TBD | Arizona, Utah Valley or Cal Poly | TBD |
| 18–30 | Wed.–Mon. | College World Series | Omaha, Neb. |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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