Men’s College World Series Finals Preview

Last month, 64 teams embarked on their journey to Omaha, Nebraska.

Now, only two teams are left standing, both chasing the national title.

Tonight, North Carolina State and Oklahoma State will clash in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals to decide the NCAA baseball champion. UNC earned its place in the finals by defeating West Virginia early Wednesday morning, while Oklahoma State secured its spot later that evening with a victory over SEC rival Georgia.

Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about the series.

Men’s College World Series Finals Schedule and Scores

The finals schedule is set as follows, with scores updated after each match. Note that all times are in Eastern Time.

Game 1: Saturday, June 20, 8 p.m.; Game 2: Sunday, June 21, 2:30 p.m.; Game 3: Monday, June 22, 7 p.m.

UNC’s Road to the MCWS Finals

North Carolina kicked off the NCAA Baseball Tournament at home as the No. 5 seed. The Tar Heels had a strong start, winning three consecutive games to advance to the Super Regionals, where they faced USC.

However, things got a bit tricky from there.

They lost the first game to USC, 9-5, putting their season at risk. In a thrilling comeback, Jason DeCaro led a stellar performance in Game 2, followed by a decisive Game 3 win that kept their hopes alive.

After dropping 3-1 in Sunday’s game, the team rallied, scoring in the bottom of the 8th. In a stunning finish, Owen Hull’s fourth double of the game clinched a walk-off victory.

Once in Omaha, the Tar Heels continued their winning streak, overpowering Ole Miss 6-2 thanks to key hits from Gavin Gallaher and Colin Hynek. To secure a finals spot, they defeated West Virginia 12-7.

This marks UNC’s second victory over West Virginia in Omaha and their first finals appearance since 2007.

It’s worth noting that UNC has never won an NCAA baseball championship.

Oklahoma State’s Road to MCWS Finals

Oklahoma’s journey to Omaha took a different route.

Not ranked among the top 16 teams, the Sooners started as the No. 2 seed in the Atlanta region. This positioned them alongside Georgia Tech, which was ranked second overall.

In an early setback, the Sooners lost to Georgia Tech 1-0 but bounced back with a win over The Citadel and another against Georgia Tech, leading to a decisive elimination game.

In a thrilling finish, Dayton Tokei delivered a walk-off home run in the 10th inning, securing the win.

Securing their place in the Super Regionals, Oklahoma faced Kansas State, winning convincingly by a combined score of 21-3. Tokei was again impressive, and Oklahoma rolled to victory in Game 2 with a score of 13-2.

Upon arriving in Omaha, Oklahoma continued to impress, winning three straight games, two against Georgia.

This is the first time Oklahoma State has reached the finals since 2022, and they are eyeing their third national title.

Key Players for Each Team

Both teams are filled with talent, featuring strong lineups and dynamic pitching options.

Yet, two players have particularly shone in recent matches and will be pivotal for their teams in the finals.

North Carolina: Owen Hull

Prior to the Men’s College World Series, Hull was spotlighted as a key player for the Tar Heels.

This assessment certainly holds true. Hull delivered the game-winning hit in the Super Regionals against USC, affirming his crucial role. He’s been on quite a roll, with his last hitless game dating back to May 16 against North Carolina State. His performance in the latest game included four hits, two RBIs, and continued momentum heading into the finals with a 12-game hitting streak.

For Oklahoma, Dathan Harris has similarly proven essential.

Highlighting his importance ahead of the World Series, Harris has maintained his strong performance through to Omaha.

The Oklahoma outfielder notably went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the opener against Alabama and shone again, going 2-for-5 with two home runs against Georgia, leading to an 11-4 win. This was a significant achievement for him as a former walk-on.

Reflecting on it, Harris said, “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a kid, and now I’m finally here.”

Currently, he’s leading the Sooners with an impressive batting average of .359 and an OPS of 1.002, only behind slugger Deiten Lachance.