UNC refuses to go away, forcing a winner-take-all game for the national title

Baseball can be a crazy game.

At one point, your team could be getting dominated by the opponent (especially the starting pitcher). With a flip of a switch, that momentum could change drastically, putting your team make in the driver's seat.

That's exactly what happened for the Diamond Heels on Sunday afternoon.

UNC forces a winner-take-all game for the College World Series title

North Carolina wasn't ready to see its season come to an end, forcing a winner-take-all game on Monday for the College World Series title.

Xavier Mercurius looked like prime Pedro Martinez through the first two innings, looking absolutely unhittable. That factor, along with the two runs Oklahoma tacked on in the top half of the first inning, put the pressure on the Diamond Heels, but fortunately, they didn't let it get to them.

In fact, the Tar Heels stormed back in the top half of the third, forcing Mercurius to throw 50 pitches while allowing three runs, as Jake Schaffner's RBI triple tied the game while a wild pitch allowed the Tar Heels' shortstop to score to give UNC the lead.

That run ended up being the difference.

Ryan Lynch settled in nicely, retiring 11 of the last 13 batters he faced. However, just two pitches into the bottom half of the fifth, Lynch called for the athletic trainer, as he appeared to suffer some type of side injury. He was forced to leave the game, as Scott Forbes and company had to turn to freshman star Caden Glauber a little earlier than they had originally hoped.

Fortunately, Glauber had another performance to remember.

The freshman right-hander recorded the final 15 outs, allowing just one hit while striking out eight Sooners. He threw 65 pitches, 45 of which were strikes, as he simply attacked from the moment he got on the mound and never let the moment get to him.

After the three-run third inning, UNC tacked on some much needed insurance runs a few innings later. Owen Hull smashed an absolute no-doubter into the right field seats in the fifth, while a Cooper Nicholson homer in the seventh gave the Diamond Heels some extra cushion.

Of course, you will never complain about winning, especially when it means it keeps your season alive. Yes, Forbes and his staff will have to pitch together its pitching for the winner-take-all game on Monday night, and will have to factor in Glauber's usage on Sunday afternoon into the equation.

Honestly, it is a really, really good problem to have, as the alternative would've been the Tar Heels heading home after getting swept in the College World Series Championship series.

North Carolina did what it needed to do: live to see another day. Monday will be different in the fact that the season will come to an end one way or another, with the hope that UNC is the team hoisting the trophy in what will be the final game of the 2026 college baseball season.

This is exactly what the Diamond Heels have played for all season long. Now, it's time to go get it done!

We'll see you tomorrow night!

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