North Carolina Is Back in the CWS Finals and 13 Trips to Omaha Without a Title Is The REAL Story

Alright, college baseball fans, buckle UP! The No. 5 North Carolina Tar Heels just punched their ticket to the 2026 College World Series Finals. Steve Forbes' squad took down No. 16 West Virginia in a 12-7 battle on Wednesday, and man, what a way to do it. This isn't just any win, folks, it’s their first time back in the championship series since 2007! You gotta love that kind of grind.

Owen Hull Put On a Clinic, But West Virginia Nearly Made It Dicey

Let’s talk about Owen Hull, because that dude was on a mission. He laced a 108-mph RBI double off the wall in the top of the first, then scored on a stolen base and throwing error. Hull finished an insane 4-for-5, with every single hit for extra bases and four RBIs, just a homer shy of the cycle! North Carolina looked like they were cruising, up 12-1 by the seventh-inning stretch. But hold up, West Virginia wasn't going down without a fight. Starting with an infield single from Armani Guzman, the Mountaineers strung together five runs in a two-out rally in that same seventh, making things a *lot* more interesting. They even tacked on another in the eighth, but that early hole was just too deep. West Virginia's magical season, their first ever CWS appearance, comes to an end, but what a fight!

The Weight of History Is On Chapel Hill's Shoulders Now

So, here we are, North Carol

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ina is in the CWS Finals. That's huge! But if you know college baseball, you know this team carries a heavy weight. This is their 13th trip to Omaha, Nebraska, for the College World Series. Think about that for a second. Thirteen times! And here's the kicker: they hold the unfortunate title of having the second-most CWS appearances without ever hoisting that national championship trophy. They were here back-to-back in 2007 and 2008, only to come up short both times. You just know that history is a massive cloud hanging over them as they prepare for the biggest games of their lives. Who are they playing? That’s still up in the air. They're waiting for the winner of the Bracket 2 title matchup between Oklahoma and No. 3 Georgia.

Oklahoma or Georgia: Who's Next for UNC's Date with Destiny?

The Sooners and Bulldogs are set to face off tonight, Wednesday, at 7 p.m. ET over at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. If Oklahoma grabs the win, they're heading straight to the championship series against North Carolina. Georgia, having lost to Oklahoma earlier, *has* to win this game to force a decisive Game 13 on Thursday. Game 1 of the CWS Finals kicks off Saturday, June 20, with Game 2 on Sunday, June 21, at 2:30 p.m. on ABC. If it goes to a Game 3, get ready for Monday night baseball on June 22 at 7 p.m. on ESPN. This is it, folks, for North Carolina, it's about more than just a trophy, it's about breaking a long drought. You won't want to miss a second!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.