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The rain which began to come down in the latter stages of UNC’s 9-3 loss to Oklahoma in Game 1 of the national championship series in Omaha Saturday seemed a fitting summation of Carolina’s afternoon. It was a gray sky for a gray performance, one which saw the Diamond Heels manage just three hits across the final eight innings.
The tarp came on to the Charles Schwab Field turf almost immediately following the game’s final out, anticipating a night full of rain across the city. The ever-positive Scott Forbes can only hope it washes away all the bad feelings from Saturday’s showing. He seemed ready to move on just minutes after the game ended.
“We’ll flush that quickly, like we have been doing all year,” Forbes said. “And we’ll wake up and be excited to play tomorrow.”
That UNC is even in Omaha at all is evidence to support Forbes’ confidence. Carolina fell in Game 1 of the Super Regionals at home against USC, only to win the next two and advance to the Men’s College World Series. It was the first time ever UNC had won a Super Regional when losing Game 1. It was also the third time this season the Diamond Heels had won a three-game series after losing the opener. Before the NCAA Tournament began, Gavin Gallaher pointed to one of those series against Boston College as a defining moment of the season. UNC will need another one of those moments Sunday if it hopes to keep its championship dream alive.
“Unfortunately, we lost Game 1 and that’s a stinker,” Forbes said, “but you’ve gotta win two. We were in a really tough spot against a really good Southern Cal team and we found a way. So I have a lot of confidence in these guys, and we’ll go about our business the same way we’ve been doing it all year.”
There’s also the fact that one has to go back only two years to find an example of a national champion losing Game 1 of the finals — that would be Tennessee against Texas A&M in 2024. Another example of such a comeback cuts Forbes to the quick: 2006, when UNC defeated Oregon State in Game 1 before dropping Games 2 and 3.
“Sometimes,” Forbes said, “it can be even harder to get that second one when you win the first one.”
Unlike the USC Super Regional, Carolina does not have its ace pitcher waiting in the wings. Jason DeCaro was knocked around in 3.2 innings in what could potentially be his final collegiate start Saturday. That leaves UNC relying on Ryan Lynch, the fireballing sophomore whose boom-or-bust potential is enough to give one pause. The boom: seven shutout innings against VCU in the regional round. The bust: not getting out of the fifth inning against West Virginia in his most recent start.
Forbes trusts his pitcher. But at the same time, he is not ruling out any machinations to get his team off the mat.
“We have no choice but to go for it tomorrow,” he said. “Everybody’s gonna be well-rested. Lynch will get us going, and we’ll go from there. But he will be ready to pitch.”
The College World Series is where confidence meets realism. There is no reason for Forbes not to believe he will get his team’s best effort Sunday. But there’s a championship on the line, which wasn’t the case against Boston College or Clemson. The stakes are higher, and the leash will be shorter.
The June rain continued to shower down outside as day turned to night in Omaha. Whenever it stops and the Charles Schwab field dries, Forbes’ faith will be put to the test. Because the Sooners smell blood in the water. Just as Carolina will stop at nothing to keep itself alive, Oklahoma will do the same with the championship trophy in reach.
It will be a nervy night in Omaha.
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Featured image via Associated Press/Rebecca S. Gratz
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