Chapel Hill, N.C. — No. 1 North Carolina is headed back to the super regionals and is just two wins away from a return to the College World Series.
The Tar Heels never trailed in Monday’s 14-4 victory over Oklahoma in the winner-take-all final of the Chapel Hill Regional, getting production throughout the lineup all game, a dominant performance from Gavin Gallaher and an overpowering pitching from reliever Walker McDuffie in the final innings.
UNC, ranked No. 1 in the polls but seeded fifth in the tournament, will host Arizona in next week’s best-of-three super regional for a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. UNC reached the CWS for the 12th time in school history last season. Arizona won the Eugene Regional.
It is the fifth time in seven completed college baseball seasons that UNC has advanced to the super regional round.
Eight Tar Heels scored at least one run and seven had at least one hit or one RBI against the Sooners.
Gallaher, a sophomore third baseman, had four hits, including two home runs, four runs and four RBIs. Hunter Stokley added three RBIs, Jackson Van De Breke had three hits, three runs and two RBIs, and Alex Madera and Carter French added three hits each for UNC, which forced Oklahoma to use seven pitchers. UNC finished with 17 hits.
The Tar Heels got a season-high five-plus innings from starter Ryan Lynch, who allowed five hits and two runs while striking out six. McDuffie replaced him with one on and no one out in the sixth inning and struck out the side. McDuffie struck out seven across four innings of relief, allowing two hits and two runs.
North Carolina scored three unearned runs in the first inning, aided by a two-out throwing error by Oklahoma second baseman Kyle Branch. Stokley’s two-run double put the Tar Heels on the board, and Madera followed with a single to score Stokley in the top of the first inning.
After Oklahoma cut it to 3-2 on a two-run home run in the second inning, UNC added four runs in the third and another in the fourth to gain a comfortable edge. In the eighth, UNC added home runs from Van De Brake and Gallaher. And in the ninth, Gallaher crushed a three-run shot to left field.
North Carolina defeated Oklahoma 11-5 on Saturday, but the Sooners beat UNC 9-5 on Sunday night to force Monday’s finale. Nebraska and Holy Cross were already been eliminated from the double-elimination regional.
The Tar Heels are one of five North Carolina schools that made the field. Duke advanced to the super regional round, while NC State and East Carolina were eliminated Sunday. Wake Forest faced Tennessee in a winner-take-all game Monday night.
Scoring recap
Top of the first inning: North Carolina scored three unearned runs in the first inning, aided by a two-out throwing error by Oklahoma second baseman Kyle Branch.
Hunter Stokley’s two-run double put the Tar Heels on the board, and Alex Madera followed with a single to score Stokley in the top of the first inning. Branch’s throwing error allowed Gavin Gallaher to reach first base and extend the inning before Stokley’s double. UNC 3, Oklahoma 0.
Bottom of the second inning: Oklahoma got two runs back on a two-run home run by designated hitter Drew Dickerson in the bottom of the second off UNC starter Ryan Lynch. UNC 3, Oklahoma 2.
Top of the third inning: Back-to-back one-out singles chased Oklahoma starter Reid Hensley, who was replaced by Gavyn Jones. Jones walked Stokeley to lead the bases. The next four batters reached base, three on singles and one on a fielder’s choice, plating four runs off Jones before relief pitcher Dylan Tate secured the third out. UNC 7, Oklahoma 2.
Top of the fourth inning: Jackson Van De Brake singled to start the inning and scored on Stokley’s fly ball to shallow left field. UNC 8, Oklahoma 2.
Bottom of the sixth inning: UNC starter Ryan Lynch went 5-plus innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked three. Fresman right-hander Walker McDuffie, who leads the team with six saves, replaced Lynch with one on and no one out for Oklaoma in the sixth. He struck out the first three batters he faced.
Bottom of the seventh inning: Oklahoma’s Jason Walk drilled a solo home run to right field after McDuffie led off the inning with another strikeout, his fourth straight. UNC 8, Oklahoma 3.
Top of the eighth inning: Van De Brake hit a two-run homer to left field, and third baseman Gavin Gallher blasted a solo shot to left field later in the inning. UNC 11, Oklahoma 3.
Top of the ninth inning: Gallaher blasted a three-run home run to left field, giving him four hits, including two home runs, four runs and four RBIs in the game. UNC 14, Oklahoma 3.
Bottom of the ninth inning: Easton Carmichael singled home Dickerson. UNC 14, Oklahoma 4.
Chapel Hill regional
Friday, May 30
North Carolina 4, Holy Cross 0
Saturday, May 31
Nebraska 4, Holy Cross 1 (Holy Cross eliminated)
Sunday, June 1
Oklahoma 17, Nebraska 1 (Nebraska eliminated)
Monday, June 2
North Carolina vs. Oklahoma
