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Oklahoma, North Carolina Open World Series Finals in Omaha

6/19/2026

46 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

North Carolina Reaches Finals

Oklahoma and North Carolina opened the World Series finals Saturday in Omaha.
North Carolina reached finals since 2007 by beating West Virginia 12-7, with pitchers Jason DeCaro and Caden Glauber posting a 21-2 record and allowing 0.8 HR per nine innings.
Oklahoma earned the finals after beating Alabama, Georgia and West Virginia, hitting 26 home runs and using Cord Rager (15 starts, 89 strikeouts, three runs in 19 innings).

Summary

Georgia Ends CWS

Georgia lost 11-4 to Oklahoma in the College World Series semifinal, ending its first CWS appearance since 2008.
The Bulldogs captured both the SEC regular-season championship and their first SEC Tournament title since 2008.
Georgia finished 53-14, setting a school record for victories.
Senior shortstop Kolby Branch homered in his final collegiate at-bat, his 20th of the season and 56th overall.

History

Historical Context

After the NCAA approved aluminum bats in 1975, metal-alloy clubs—already legal in amateur baseball—boosted offense, sparking a 15% rise in team home runs that season. Louisville Slugger supplied about 1,200 bats to 300 programs, reshaping the College World Series. Today programs such as Oklahoma, North Carolina and Georgia continue the power surge, each posting double-digit homers in Omaha 2024.

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North Carolina Reaches Finals

Oklahoma and North Carolina opened the World Series finals Saturday in Omaha.
North Carolina reached finals since 2007 by beating West Virginia 12-7, with pitchers Jason DeCaro and Caden Glauber posting a 21-2 record and allowing 0.8 HR per nine innings.
Oklahoma earned the finals after beating Alabama, Georgia and West Virginia, hitting 26 home runs and using Cord Rager (15 starts, 89 strikeouts, three runs in 19 innings).

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