The Oklahoma Sooners captured the 2026 NCAA Division I Baseball National Championship on Saturday, defeating North Carolina 13‑2 in Omaha, Nebraska. The victory marks the third title in program history and ends a 32‑year championship drought.
A Tournament Defined by Power and Precision
Oklahoma struck first, plating two runs in the second inning after a timely single by Kyle Branch that brought home Dasan Harris. The Sooners added a third run in the third when Brendan Brock’s single drove in Jaxon Willits, capping a three‑run opening frame.
Branch was the offensive engine, finishing 3‑for‑4 with a home run, six RBIs and a double. His three‑run blast in the eighth stretched the lead to 13‑2 and underscored his role as the team’s most consistent slugger.
On the mound, LJ Mercurius delivered 5.2 innings of relief, earning the win with a steady mix of fastballs and off‑speed pitches. Jackson Cleveland sealed the game with three strikeouts in the ninth, preserving the shutout.
The defensive highlight came in the sixth when Dasan Harris made a diving catch on the warning track, preserving a crucial out and shifting momentum. Earlier, Camden Johnson’s tag at third base in the second inning halted a potential rally by North Carolina.
The championship caps a season in which the Sooners won nine straight games, a streak that began with their first run of the tournament. The victory not only restores national prominence to Oklahoma baseball but also sets a high bar for future squads.