OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — Oklahoma exploded for 13 runs on 14 hits Monday at Charles Schwab Field, defeating North Carolina 13-2 in a College World Series playoff game. The Sooners improved to 43-23; the Tar Heels fell to 54-14-1.

Oklahoma built an early lead with a two-run second inning as Kyle Branch singled home a run and later scored on a wild pitch. Jaxon Willits scored on a base hit in the third. North Carolina answered in the bottom half on a run-scoring single by G. Gallaher. The Sooners pulled away in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk and a two-run single by Willits, then Dayton Tockey homered in the fifth. Branch added a two-run single in the sixth and capped the scoring with a three-run homer in the eighth. North Carolina’s final run came in the seventh on a single by O. Hull.

Pitchers LJ Mercurius, Nick Wesloski and Jackson Cleveland combined to limit the Tar Heels to 10 hits. Branch finished with five RBIs.