CHAPEL HILL, NC — The Oklahoma Sooners fell to the North Carolina Tar Heels 11-5 in a lopsided affair Saturday night in the Chapel Hill Regional, sending OU to the loser’s bracket with a steep climb ahead. A devastating six-run first inning by North Carolina set the tone, and despite Oklahoma’s 12 hits, the Sooners couldn’t match the Tar Heels’ offensive firepower.
Oklahoma’s ace, Kyson Witherspoon, took the mound with high expectations but struggled early. The Tar Heels pounced in the first inning, as Hunter Stokely, Alex Madera, and Tyson Bass delivered back-to-back-to-back RBI singles. Sam Angelo capped the rally with a three-run homer, putting North Carolina up 6-0 before Oklahoma could settle in. Witherspoon, visibly frustrated, managed a strikeout to end the inning but never found his rhythm. He allowed 10 hits, three earned runs, and three home runs—his first game this season surrendering multiple homers—over four innings (4 IP, 3 BB, 4 K).
It was a shock for many fans and spectators to see Kyson struggle like he did tonight.
North Carolina’s aggressive approach never let up. Gavin Gallaher’s RBI single in the fourth made it 7-0, and the Tar Heels broke it open in the fifth when Tyson Bass and Sam Angelo went deep with solo homers, pushing the lead to 9-0. Angelo’s second homer of the night was a dagger, silencing what little Sooner faithful were in attendance.
Carter French added an RBI single in the seventh, keeping North Carolina comfortably ahead at 11-3. The Tar Heels’ balanced attack overwhelmed Oklahoma’s pitching staff, with every starter contributing to the hit column.
Oklahoma’s bats weren’t quiet, racking up 12 hits, but timely scoring eluded them. The Sooners finally broke through in the sixth when pinch-hitter Sam Christiansen laced an RBI double to score Easton Carmichael, followed by Kyle Branch’s RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 9-2. Trey Gambill’s RBI single in the seventh and Dasan Harris’s RBI single in the eighth kept OU in the fight, trimming the lead to 11-4.
In the ninth, Jaxon Willits delivered a spark with an RBI single to score Jason Walk, but the rally fizzled as North Carolina closed out the 11-5 victory, securing their spot in the regional final.
Easton Carmichael led Oklahoma at the plate, going 2-for-5 and continuing to be a steady force in the lineup. Dasan Harris had a breakout performance, going 3-for-4—his best outing of the season—providing a glimmer of hope for the Sooners’ offense with him on the bases. For North Carolina, Sam Angelo’s two homers and four RBIs stole the show, while Tyson Bass contributed a homer and multiple hits with a couple of RBIs as well.
Up Next
The loss drops Oklahoma into the loser’s bracket, where they’ll face Nebraska at 11 a.m. CST Sunday on ESPN+. A win would set the Sooners up against North Carolina later that evening, requiring the Sooners to win three straight games—two on Sunday, one on Monday—to advance out of the Chapel Hill Regional. OU’s resilience will be tested as they look to keep their season alive.
Oklahoma didn't lay down tonight, they kept showing heart and will. The Sooners’ bats showed life, but they’ll need to turn their 12 hits into runs if they hope to claw their way back against a formidable Tar Heel squad.
Oklahoma’s ace, Kyson Witherspoon, took the mound with high expectations but struggled early. The Tar Heels pounced in the first inning, as Hunter Stokely, Alex Madera, and Tyson Bass delivered back-to-back-to-back RBI singles. Sam Angelo capped the rally with a three-run homer, putting North Carolina up 6-0 before Oklahoma could settle in. Witherspoon, visibly frustrated, managed a strikeout to end the inning but never found his rhythm. He allowed 10 hits, three earned runs, and three home runs—his first game this season surrendering multiple homers—over four innings (4 IP, 3 BB, 4 K).
It was a shock for many fans and spectators to see Kyson struggle like he did tonight.
North Carolina’s aggressive approach never let up. Gavin Gallaher’s RBI single in the fourth made it 7-0, and the Tar Heels broke it open in the fifth when Tyson Bass and Sam Angelo went deep with solo homers, pushing the lead to 9-0. Angelo’s second homer of the night was a dagger, silencing what little Sooner faithful were in attendance.
Carter French added an RBI single in the seventh, keeping North Carolina comfortably ahead at 11-3. The Tar Heels’ balanced attack overwhelmed Oklahoma’s pitching staff, with every starter contributing to the hit column.
Oklahoma’s bats weren’t quiet, racking up 12 hits, but timely scoring eluded them. The Sooners finally broke through in the sixth when pinch-hitter Sam Christiansen laced an RBI double to score Easton Carmichael, followed by Kyle Branch’s RBI groundout, cutting the deficit to 9-2. Trey Gambill’s RBI single in the seventh and Dasan Harris’s RBI single in the eighth kept OU in the fight, trimming the lead to 11-4.
In the ninth, Jaxon Willits delivered a spark with an RBI single to score Jason Walk, but the rally fizzled as North Carolina closed out the 11-5 victory, securing their spot in the regional final.
Easton Carmichael led Oklahoma at the plate, going 2-for-5 and continuing to be a steady force in the lineup. Dasan Harris had a breakout performance, going 3-for-4—his best outing of the season—providing a glimmer of hope for the Sooners’ offense with him on the bases. For North Carolina, Sam Angelo’s two homers and four RBIs stole the show, while Tyson Bass contributed a homer and multiple hits with a couple of RBIs as well.
Up Next
The loss drops Oklahoma into the loser’s bracket, where they’ll face Nebraska at 11 a.m. CST Sunday on ESPN+. A win would set the Sooners up against North Carolina later that evening, requiring the Sooners to win three straight games—two on Sunday, one on Monday—to advance out of the Chapel Hill Regional. OU’s resilience will be tested as they look to keep their season alive.
Oklahoma didn't lay down tonight, they kept showing heart and will. The Sooners’ bats showed life, but they’ll need to turn their 12 hits into runs if they hope to claw their way back against a formidable Tar Heel squad.
