UNC’s Owen Hull blasts HR, knocks OU’s starting pitcher out of Game 2
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Oklahoma right-hander Xander Mercurius got off to a big start in Game 2 of the College World Series best-of-three final on Sunday, striking out the first three North Carolina batters he faced in the first inning. Then, despite allowing a leadoff single in the second, he responded with three more strikeouts to run his total to six on the day.
But with the Sooners up 2-0, the nerves of the big stage may have gotten to the true freshman from Las Vegas.
After putting the first two runners aboard in the top of the third, Mercurius gave up a two-run triple to Jake Schaffner that tied the game at 2-2. Schaffner eventually scored with one out on a wild pitch to give the Tar Heels a 3-2 lead. Mercurius eventually loaded the bases with one out before striking out the next two batters to escape with no further damage.
It stayed 3-2 until the top of the fifth, when Owen Hull drilled a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left field — his ninth home run of the season — as North Carolina went up 4-2.
That was the end of the line for Mercurius, who allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight.
Meanwhile, after scoring twice in the bottom of the first, Oklahoma‘s bats have been silenced by right-hander Ryan Lynch. The Sooners have work to do if they are to come away with a two-game sweep and win their first College World Series since 1994.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
