Chapel Hill, NC — The Boshamer Stadium faithful erupted in a sea of Carolina blue Monday afternoon, as the No. 5-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels (45-13) roared to a commanding 14-4 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners (38-22) in the decisive game of the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional. With “ACC” chants echoing through the stands, UNC’s bats exploded, and their pitching duo of Ryan Lynch and Walker McDuffie delivered a masterclass, propelling the Tar Heels to their second straight Super Regional appearance.
The Tar Heels, riding the momentum of their ACC Tournament championship, entered the winner-take-all finale against a battle-tested Oklahoma squad that had clawed back with a 9-5 upset over UNC on Sunday. But on Monday, there was no denying the Diamond Heels, who showcased the offensive firepower and pitching depth that have defined their 2025 campaign.
From the opening pitch, UNC asserted dominance. Sophomore sensation Gavin Gallaher, the 2024 Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player, set the tone with a leadoff double in the first inning. The Tar Heels sent nine batters to the plate, capitalizing on Oklahoma’s early miscues to plate five runs, including a towering three-run homer from designated hitter Sam Angelo, who continued his torrid regional performance.
Oklahoma, led by ace Kyson Witherspoon’s absence after a rough outing Saturday, struggled to contain UNC’s relentless lineup. The Sooners’ bullpen, already taxed from Sunday’s doubleheader, couldn’t stem the tide. By the fourth inning, UNC had built a 10-2 lead, with Alex Madera and Tyson Bass each driving in runs with sharp singles. The Tar Heels finished with 16 hits, including four extra-base hits, and went 9-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
On the mound, freshman right-hander Ryan Lynch (4-1, 2.92 ERA) was electric, tossing five innings of two-run ball, striking out six, and allowing just four hits. Fellow freshman Walker McDuffie closed the door, surrendering two runs over the final four frames while fanning five.
Oklahoma, to their credit, fought valiantly. Third baseman Dawson Willis launched a solo homer in the third, and Drew Dickerson added a two-run shot in the sixth, but the Sooners couldn’t overcome UNC’s early onslaught.
The Tar Heels’ 14-4 rout marked their 36th home regional win in program history, improving their all-time record to 36-9 at Boshamer in NCAA play. The victory sets up a Chapel Hill Super Regional matchup against Arizona, with UNC aiming for back-to-back College World Series berths for the first time since 2008-09.
As the sun set over Boshamer, fans lingered, savoring the “Bosh Magic” that has made Chapel Hill a fortress. “This is why you come to Carolina,” Gallaher said, grinning. “To play in front of these fans, in games like this, for a shot at Omaha.”