University of North Carolina Athletics
Caden Glauber
Photo by: ISABEL O. SWINDALL
Lucas: Oklahoma Rapid Reactions (G2)
June 21, 2026 | Baseball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Quick takeaways from game two of the CWS championship series.
By Adam Lucas
1. What a performance in every way, as Carolina wins game two of the championship series 6-2 over Oklahoma to tie the series at 1-1.
2. If yesterday was uncharacteristic in several ways, today was a prototypical 2026 Tar Heel baseball performance. The Heels came up with just enough timely hits, pitched a great ballgame, and played quality defense.
3. It started on the mound. Caden Glauber came in to relieve Ryan Lynch, who had to leave unexpectedly after throwing four very strong innings. Glauber was electric, throwing the final five and allowing just one hit while striking out eight and walking two. Glauber is now 12-0 on the year. If you're already thinking about tomorrow, he threw 65 pitches in those five innings. But before you start thinking about tomorrow, think about the line the freshman put up today. It was spectacular.
4. Oklahoma's booming offense got two runs in the first inning and was rolling. In front of what was essentially a home crowd for OU, the Tar Heels then proceeded to put up zeroes for the rest of the afternoon.
5. Gavin Gallaher was awarded a Gold Glove this week, so he decided to go out and celebrate by making a spectacular 4-3 game-ending double play to thwart what felt like a slightly nervous OU rally. That was exactly the play the Tar Heels needed at exactly the right moment by the captain.
6. This UNC offense looked much more like the one we've seen in the postseason. The Heels might have left a couple innings wishing they had more (bases loaded in the third and first and third in the fifth), but unlike yesterday, they kept adding to the total. Â
7. The big swing felt like it belonged to Cooper Nicholson, who had sensational at-bats all day. Nicholson had already had a nine-pitch at-bat that ended in a hit by a pitch in the three-run third, and then he worked a seven-pitch walk in the fifth. That was just prelude to the seventh, when he again worked it full and then popped a two-run home run. A possible benefit for Nicholson: he got several looks at funky OU lefty Nate Smithburg while the Sooners were attending to a potential injury in left field. Smithburg threw some warmup pitches while the medical attention was being received, and Nicholson was able to stand very close to the plate to watch those and find his timing. The results were very beneficial for the Tar Heels.
8. This is why you want Scott Forbes to be your head coach. Macon Winslow has been struggling and was benched today in favor of Rom Kellis V. He was inserted in the eighth to try and get a bunt down and wasn't able to do it. During the ensuing pitching change, Forbes came to the UNC dugout, saw Winslow's frustration, and immediately went up to him and began building him back up again. You never know which guy on the roster will play an important role tomorrow, and Forbes has a way of making sure everyone is on board.
9. The lineup shuffle moved Carter French to eighth. He responded by becoming the first player in CWS history to draw four walks in a game. For the second straight day, he also had a phenomenal catch going back to the fence in right field.Â
10. Great mound visit by pitching coach Bryant Gaines to see Lynch in the first inning. Already trailing 2-0, it felt like Lynch could be on the ropes. Gaines calmed down the moment and Lynch got two outs to get out of the inning and keep Carolina in position to win the game.Â
11. Some of the bigger swings will get more attention, but don't overlook Jake Schaffner's aggressive baserunning in the third. He tripled and then managed to score on a wild pitch that barely even got out of the dirt around home plate. The Tar Heel shortstop got a great read on the ball and never hesitated, and that's how you make game-changing plays.
12. Tomorrow promises to be a classic. Everything had gone right for Oklahoma since they walked off Georgia Tech in the regional. They showed some frustration on Sunday, and now both teams will have to put what happened today aside and come back and play one game for the national title tomorrow.
13. First pitch Monday night is at 7 p.m. Eastern. If you're a Tar Heel in the Midwest (or farther), try to find a way to get to Omaha.Â
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1. What a performance in every way, as Carolina wins game two of the championship series 6-2 over Oklahoma to tie the series at 1-1.
2. If yesterday was uncharacteristic in several ways, today was a prototypical 2026 Tar Heel baseball performance. The Heels came up with just enough timely hits, pitched a great ballgame, and played quality defense.
3. It started on the mound. Caden Glauber came in to relieve Ryan Lynch, who had to leave unexpectedly after throwing four very strong innings. Glauber was electric, throwing the final five and allowing just one hit while striking out eight and walking two. Glauber is now 12-0 on the year. If you're already thinking about tomorrow, he threw 65 pitches in those five innings. But before you start thinking about tomorrow, think about the line the freshman put up today. It was spectacular.
4. Oklahoma's booming offense got two runs in the first inning and was rolling. In front of what was essentially a home crowd for OU, the Tar Heels then proceeded to put up zeroes for the rest of the afternoon.
5. Gavin Gallaher was awarded a Gold Glove this week, so he decided to go out and celebrate by making a spectacular 4-3 game-ending double play to thwart what felt like a slightly nervous OU rally. That was exactly the play the Tar Heels needed at exactly the right moment by the captain.
6. This UNC offense looked much more like the one we've seen in the postseason. The Heels might have left a couple innings wishing they had more (bases loaded in the third and first and third in the fifth), but unlike yesterday, they kept adding to the total. Â
7. The big swing felt like it belonged to Cooper Nicholson, who had sensational at-bats all day. Nicholson had already had a nine-pitch at-bat that ended in a hit by a pitch in the three-run third, and then he worked a seven-pitch walk in the fifth. That was just prelude to the seventh, when he again worked it full and then popped a two-run home run. A possible benefit for Nicholson: he got several looks at funky OU lefty Nate Smithburg while the Sooners were attending to a potential injury in left field. Smithburg threw some warmup pitches while the medical attention was being received, and Nicholson was able to stand very close to the plate to watch those and find his timing. The results were very beneficial for the Tar Heels.
8. This is why you want Scott Forbes to be your head coach. Macon Winslow has been struggling and was benched today in favor of Rom Kellis V. He was inserted in the eighth to try and get a bunt down and wasn't able to do it. During the ensuing pitching change, Forbes came to the UNC dugout, saw Winslow's frustration, and immediately went up to him and began building him back up again. You never know which guy on the roster will play an important role tomorrow, and Forbes has a way of making sure everyone is on board.
9. The lineup shuffle moved Carter French to eighth. He responded by becoming the first player in CWS history to draw four walks in a game. For the second straight day, he also had a phenomenal catch going back to the fence in right field.Â
10. Great mound visit by pitching coach Bryant Gaines to see Lynch in the first inning. Already trailing 2-0, it felt like Lynch could be on the ropes. Gaines calmed down the moment and Lynch got two outs to get out of the inning and keep Carolina in position to win the game.Â
11. Some of the bigger swings will get more attention, but don't overlook Jake Schaffner's aggressive baserunning in the third. He tripled and then managed to score on a wild pitch that barely even got out of the dirt around home plate. The Tar Heel shortstop got a great read on the ball and never hesitated, and that's how you make game-changing plays.
12. Tomorrow promises to be a classic. Everything had gone right for Oklahoma since they walked off Georgia Tech in the regional. They showed some frustration on Sunday, and now both teams will have to put what happened today aside and come back and play one game for the national title tomorrow.
13. First pitch Monday night is at 7 p.m. Eastern. If you're a Tar Heel in the Midwest (or farther), try to find a way to get to Omaha.Â
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