Fresh off 2 comeback wins over Georgia Tech to win the Atlanta Regional last weekend, the Oklahoma Sooners headed to Lawrence, KS to take on old friend, Kansas, in the Super Regional round this weekend.
Game 1 of the best of 3 series was Saturday night, and the Sooners did not need to come back in this game.
After 3 innings of scoreless ball on both sides, the Sooners got on the board in the 4th. After Kansas shortstop Tyson Leblanc committed an error on what could’ve been, but not likely, a double play, Dasan Harris knocked in the 1st Sooner run on a RBI fielder’s choice. That brought up Atlanta Regional hero, Dayton Tockey, to the plate with 2 runners on. On an 0-2 pitch, Tockey went with the pitch and knocked it over the center field fence on the left field side for a 3 run bomb to put the Sooners up 4-0 after the 4th inning.
In the 5th inning, Jason Walk almost got in on the party as he hit a deep shot to straight away center field off the batter’s eye for a lead off double. It was Camden Johnson who brought him home (and himself) on a rocket to right field for a 2 run home run. Three batters later, Trey Gambill got his over the batter’s eye for a solo bomb to make it 7-0 OU after 5.
Brendan Brock added the 8th and last run for the Sooners in the 7th on a base hit bringing in “Big Maple” Deiten Lachance.
True freshman, Cord Rager pitched his best game of the season in his 2nd NCAA Tournament start. Rager was dealing as he did not allow a Jayhawk to advance to 2nd base. He allowed only 1 hit, 1 BB, and 1 HBP in his 6 innings of work while striking out 6 and not allowing a run.
LJ Mercurius came in and pitched the last 3 innings for the save. Outside of a solo bomb to Jordan Bach (NEO alum), Mercurius was outstanding allowing only 3 hits and striking out 3.
The Sooners and Jayhawks will play Game 2 on Sunday with a 5:00 p.m. first pitch with OU only 1 win away from a trip to Omaha for the 2nd time in 5 seasons.
Xander Mercurius (another true freshman) will get the start for the Sooners.
Seleted OU stats:
- Rager (W): 6 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 6 K
- Mercurius (S): 3 IP, 3 H, ER, 3 K
- Gambill: 2-4, HR, RBI, BB
- Tockey: HR, 3 RBI
- Johnson: HR, 2 RBI
- Brock: 2-4, RBI, BB
- Harris: RBI, 2B
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