MCWS 2026: As UNC rallies past Oklahoma, the Heels' fathers rally around Erik Paulsen Jr.

It is an Omaha tradition that when teams leave for the ballpark each day, they are greeted by their families as they board their bus. On Sunday morning, when the Diamond Heels hit the Hilton lobby, the UNC dads wore buttons to support first baseman Erik Paulsen Jr., who was experiencing his first Father's Day without his father, NYPD officer Erik Sr. (ESPN)

Caden Glauber delivered another masterpiece in a freshman season for the ages

We're starting to run out of words to describe Caden Glauber. How do you accurately put into words how dominant he's been on the mound while reminding everyone for the what seems to be 10000th time that he should just be graduating high school? Glauber took the mound in relief in Game 2 of the CWS Championship Series in the bottom of the fifth inning. (Keeping It Heel)

Erik Paulsen mashes 3 hits in Game 2 of CWS Finals, honors late dad

Thanks to another shutdown pitching performance and timely hitting, the UNC baseball team beat Oklahoma, 6-2, to stave off elimination in Game 2 of the College World Series on Sunday afternoon. First baseman Erik Paulsen led UNC with three hits: singles in the second and third innings, then later a seventh-inning double he scored on. (USA Today)

UNC Baseball Bounces Back, Beats Oklahoma to Force Winner-Take-All Championship Game

“He doesn’t take any outing for granted,” UNC pitching coach Bryant Gaines said of Caden Glauber. “He’s not asking us to start, asking us to close. He’s just asking us to give him the ball. And when players are like that, usually they end up being successful.” Game 3 of the national championship series against Oklahoma is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. (Chapelboro.com)

Tar Heels 6, Sooners 2: CWS Game 2 Postgame Notes

UNC became the 13th team to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the CWS Finals. Eight of the previous 12 teams to win Championship Finals Game 2 went on to win the title. Jake Schaffner has now scored 84 runs, the second-most in a season in program history, trailing only the 88 runs scored by Vance Honeycutt during the Tar Heels 2024 run to the CWS. (TarHeel247)

Video: UNC Baseball vs. Oklahoma Post-CWS Game 2 Press Conferences

Coaches and players from North Carolina and Oklahoma speak with the media following the Tar Heels' 6-2 victory over the Sooners at the College World Series on Sunday in Omaha, Nebraska. (View Video)

Video: UNC Baseball Forces Game 3 of Championship Series, Tops Sooners, 6-2 - Highlights

Caden Glauber pitched 5 shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out eight, to lead UNC Baseball to a 6-2 win over Oklahoma in the second game of the College World Series championship series on Sunday in Omaha. Check out the highlights. (View Video)

Video: UNC Baseball On-Field Post-CWS Game 2 Interviews

UNC second baseman Gavin Gallaher, right fielder Carter French, center fielder Owen Hull, and pitching coach Bryant Gaines speak with reporters following the Tar Heels' 6-2 Game-2 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners on Sunday at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. (View Video)

Lucas: UNC Baseball vs. Oklahoma CWS Rapid Reactions (Game 2)

What a performance in every way, as Carolina wins game two of the championship series 6-2 over Oklahoma to tie the series at 1-1. If yesterday was uncharacteristic in several ways, today was a prototypical 2026 Tar Heel baseball performance. The Heels came up with just enough timely hits, pitched a great ballgame, and played quality defense. (GoHeels.com)

Pitching, power put Diamond Heels win away from national championship

For the first time in 20 years, North Carolina is a win away from the program’s first national championship. Dominant pitching and timely hitting powered the No. 4 Tar Heels to a 6–2 victory Sunday at Charles Schwab Field Omaha over Oklahoma in Game 2 of the College World Series Finals to force a deciding game for the national championship. (Tar Heel Tribune)

Ryan Lynch exits Game 2 of the College World Series Championship Series due to injury

Everything was going rather well for the North Carolina baseball program until the bottom half of the fifth inning. Ryan Lynch was settling in nicely, retiring 11 of the last 13 batters he faced. Unfortunately, just two pitches into the inning, Lynch called for the trainers and was instantly removed from the game. Caden Glauber was summoned out of the bullpen. (Keeping It Heel)

The Omaha Diaries, Day 7: David’s Team

This was how David, 6, showed his excitement for the day’s ball game. David and his father, Josh, are from Burlington, N.C. and flew to Omaha the night before. David is inseparable from his authentic UNC cap, given to him by former pitcher Jake Knapp. He’s also been inseparable from the Tar Heels ever since Team IMPACT paired the two in 2025. (Chapelboro.com)

Gavin Gallaher, UNC baseball in familiar position vs Oklahoma at College World Series

Gavin Gallaher and UNC baseball have "been here before" this season. Following a 9-3 loss to Oklahoma in Game 1 of the 2026 CWS finals, Gallaher and the Tar Heels quickly shifted their attention to Game 2 against the Sooners on Sunday. UNC hasn’t lost a series since early March, but 14 of the last 22 CWS champions won Game 1 in Omaha. (USA Today)

Burlington boy, leukemia survivor will cheer on UNC baseball in CWS title series

UNC baseball will have a special fan in attendance this weekend when it plays for a national championship. No, it won’t be country singer Eric Church. Or men’s basketball coach Michael Malone. Or even Roy Williams. The Tar Heels’ special guest is David Hill, a 6-year-old leukemia survivor. His family found out last week that a trip to Omaha was possible. (MSN.com)

2026 MCWS finals: Will Oklahoma's win or UNC's loss carry more of an emotional impact in Game 2?

As the game began slipping away, the concern for Scott Forbes and the UNC coaching staff shifted from trying to rally on Saturday's scoreboard in lieu of focusing on mentally rallying in time for Sunday's Game 2. As soon as his team had filed into the locker room, he addressed it. "It's a weekend series," he said in the media room, moments later. (ESPN)

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