Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 22

North Carolina, Oklahoma Open College World Series Game 3 Scoreless Through 2 Innings

Updated

Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 22

North Carolina, Oklahoma Open College World Series Game 3 Scoreless Through 2 Innings

Q: Can North Carolina's undefeated freshman reliever stop Oklahoma's red-hot offense and force a decisive Game 3?

Yes—but North Carolina will likely need more than Caden Glauber alone to do it. Glauber gives UNC its best weapon out of the bullpen. The ACC Freshman of the Year is 11-0 with a 2.17 ERA, leads all NCAA freshmen in strikeouts, and North Carolina is 28-0 in games he has pitched. He has also been sharp in Omaha, allowing just one run in 5 1/3 innings across three appearances. In an elimination game, coach Scott Forbes has made clear it is “all hands on deck,” so Glauber is expected to be a major factor if Ryan Lynch cannot work deep. The challenge is that Oklahoma’s offense is not just hot, but one of the most dangerous units left in the tournament. The Sooners scored nine runs in Game 1, have produced three nine-run games in Omaha, and have hit 45 home runs over their last 20 games. Deiten LaChance’s two-homer opener was another sign that Oklahoma is punishing mistakes quickly. That means Glauber can help change the game, but only if UNC gets enough from Lynch at the start and provides better run support than it did in the 9-3 loss. Oklahoma starter Xander Mercurius is also coming off his best outing of the season, so North Carolina’s lineup has its own pressure to answer. The path is there for UNC because Game 1 winners have not always finished the job in the MCWS finals. But if the Tar Heels are going to force Game 3, Glauber likely has to be excellent—and the offense must be much better too.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 22

0-0 through two innings, North Carolina and Oklahoma remained deadlocked in the winner-take-all College World Series finale in Omaha.
Jackson Rose stranded two Sooners in the first by striking out Trey Gambill, while Nick Wesloski retired UNC in order and got help from two sharp defensive plays.
The decisive game was forced after Oklahoma won Game 1 9-3 and North Carolina answered with a 6-2 victory in Game 2.
Oklahoma is chasing its third national title and first since 1994, while North Carolina is seeking the program's first championship after 13 MCWS trips.