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It felt like destiny for North Carolina baseball, and like a sign from dad for first baseman Erik Paulsen.
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Paulsen scampered across home plate after first baseman Cooper Nicholson hit his 17th home run of the season on Sunday in Game 2 of the Men’s College World Series finals.
The duo scored the Tar Heels’ fifth and sixth runs of the game and celebrated with left fielder Tyler Howe at home plate. Nicholson’s homer put the team up four runs and effectively pushed the game out of reach for red-hot Oklahoma (42-23).
No. 5 UNC used two multi-run innings and plate discipline to defeat the Sooners, 6-2, snapping OU’s nine-game winning streak and forcing a winner-take-all Game 3. They will play at 7 p.m. Monday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha with the national championship on the line.
And, on Paulsen’s first Father’s Day without his dad — 13 days before the first anniversary of his death — the Stony Brook transfer played a big role in UNC’s must-win game.
The junior led the Carolina (54-13-1) lineup, going 3 for 5 at the plate, with a double and one run scored. Paulsen also provided aggressive base running and stalwart defense at first. It was his best overall performance of the postseason.
Paulsen’s late father was a detective in New York and among the first responders during 9/11. He died on July 4, 2025, due to throat cancer. Doctors attributed the disease to his work at Ground Zero. His teammates’ fathers wore buttons with Paulsen’s name and number to honor the family.
Meanwhile, Nicholson had been without a home run since the NCAA Tournament opener against VCU. It came at the right time.
North Carolina had to work from behind, despite what the score might indicate.
Oklahoma freshman Xander Mercurius earned his fifth start of the season and threw lights out from first pitch. The right-hander threw six straight strikes in the top of the first. Mercurius also struck out six of the first seven batters, giving him at least six strikeouts in all five career starts.
After Carolina recorded four hits in the first inning on Saturday, Mercurius held the Tar Heels to one hit through the first two.
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The Sooner Schooner came to a screeching halt in the third. North Carolina dominated Mercurius, and the Oklahoma defense, its second time through the lineup.
Right fielder Carter French started the rally with a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position when designated hitter Rom Kellis knocked in a single off the shortstop’s glove. Both players scored, tying the game at 2-2, when UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner tripled to right field, his hit falling just inside fair territory and rolling to the corner.
Schaffner crossed home plate on a wild pitch, both Mercurius and catcher Deiten LaChance miscommunicated on the attempted force out.
UNC stayed patient at the plate and loaded the bases on a walk, hit by pitch and single. The Heels, however, ended the inning with consecutive swinging strikeouts to strand the runners.
Mercurius, who cruised early, threw 50 pitches in the third. He retired the Carolina batters in order the subsequent inning but ultimately exited the game in the top of the fifth after UNC center fielder Owen Hull hit a solo home run.
The rest of the Sooner bullpen — Oklahoma used six relievers in the loss — struggled to keep the Tar Heels off base, but the defense limited the damage.
Sophomore Ryan Lynch started the game on the mound and exited in the bottom of the fifth inning. He was midway through OU second baseman Kyle Branch’s at bat when he departed. Lynch expressed discomfort during a mound visit with Forbes and a member of the athletic training staff.
The right-hander gave up two runs and two hits in the first four batters. Through the next 13, Lynch gave up one hit and notched four strikeouts. He finished with five strikeouts and a pair of free passes.
Freshman Caden Glauber entered the game in relief and immediately struck out all three batters. He finished with eight strikeouts, while allowing one hit over five innings of work. Glauber moved to 12-0 this season, and Carolina is now 28-0 when the rookie makes an appearance.
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