CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In a thrilling clash during the Chapel Hill Regional, Drew Dickerson’s pivotal home run in the sixth inning propelled Oklahoma to a 9-5 victory over No. 5 national seed North Carolina. This win extends the competition to a decisive game on Monday, where the winner will secure a spot in the super regionals.
The Tar Heels initially seized a 3-2 lead, thanks to Gavin Gallaher, who electrified his team with a leadoff home run in the fourth followed by a two-run double in the sixth. However, Oklahoma responded strongly in the bottom of the sixth inning. Dickerson’s crucial two-run homer shifted the advantage to Oklahoma with a 4-3 lead. Shortly thereafter, Jaxon Willits contributed a double, allowing two unearned runs to score and extending the Sooner’s lead to 6-3.
North Carolina continued to fight back as Gallaher hit another double in the seventh, driving in another run and making the score 7-5. Gallaher demonstrated outstanding performance throughout the game, accumulating three hits and four RBIs for the Tar Heels, who stand at 44-13 for the season.
As the game advanced to the top of the eighth inning, with Oklahoma leading 8-5, North Carolina loaded the bases through a combination of walks and a single, creating a potential turning point with no outs. Nevertheless, Dylan Crooks, Oklahoma’s reliever, adeptly navigated out of the sticky situation with a timely strikeout and a pair of flyouts.
Later, Dasan Harris sealed the scoring for the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth, ensuring Oklahoma’s dominance. Despite conceding four runs in two innings, James Hitt improved his record to 3-0 with the win, while Crooks safeguarded the victory, marking his 15th save of the season for the Sooners, who now boast a 38-21 record.
North Carolina’s pitcher Olin Johnson, who succumbed to Dickerson’s sixth-inning home run, was credited with the loss, bringing his personal record to 2-1.