Oklahoma at Alabama Weekend Recap

By Jake Mastroianni

Alabama (25-4, 6-3) gets a big series win at home over Oklahoma (22-5, 5-4) in what were three close games between two good teams. 

Every game in the series was decided by two runs or less, and while the Sooners took the series loss, they showed a lot of fight and had chances to win each one of the games. 

These two teams were picked to finish in the bottom half of the SEC; but in this series, they made a strong case to be considered two of the top teams in not just the conference but all of college baseball, with great pitching, solid defense, and clutch hitting. 

Game 1: Alabama 8, Oklahoma 6

A wild game to start the weekend, the Crimson Tide blew the lead late but then regained it for the series-opening win. 

Alabama really made Oklahoma starter Kyson Witherspoon work and ultimately forced him out of the game after he gave up four runs, three earned, in four innings. OU did the same to UA's Zane Adams, who threw 101 pitches in four innings of work but allowed just two earned runs. 

With the Tide holding a 5-2 lead going into the 7th, the Sooner offense started to chip away, as they did all weekend, scoring two runs in the 7th to make it a 5-4 game. 

In the 8th, Dayton Tockey hit a huge two-run homer to give Oklahoma a 6-5 lead. 

But, Alabama answered back with three runs in the eighth to regain the lead at 8-6. Catcher Will Plattner had the go-ahead hit. 

Justin Lebron picked up three hits, including a home run, in the game. But, he scared all the Alabama fans when he rolled up on his wrist trying to make a diving play in the game. Thankfully, he was alright and able to continue in the game. 

Game 2: Oklahoma 6, Alabama 5

This was a well-pitched game by Oklahoma starter Cade Crossland (6 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 2 ER, 7 Ks) and Alabama’s Bobby Alcock (6 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 ER, 5 Ks). 

Oklahoma scored single runs in each of the first three innings, but Alcock was able to limit the damage and go deep into the game. He moved up from Sunday to Saturday in the rotation, as Riley Quick continues to deal with blisters on his pitching hand. 

Alabama was able to tie the game 4-4 in the 7th, thanks to a throwing error after a great bunt by Richie Bonomolo Jr., who had moved up in the order to the leadoff spot. 

It remained tied until the 9th, when Oklahoma loaded the bases with one out and managed to push across two runs. Easton Carmichael had a clutch, two-out single to plate the second run which became critical when Alabama pushed a run across in the bottom half. They even had the tying run at third and winning run at second with two outs, but Sooner closer Dylan Crooks got Plattner looking at a third strike to end the game. 

Game 3: Alabama 8, Oklahoma 6

A rain-soaked field led to a sloppy game on Sunday. 

But before the rain came, Jason Torres continued his turnaround weekend with a three-run homer in the first inning for Alabama. 

The Crismon Tide would jump out to an 8-1 lead after 4 innings thanks to 3 unearned runs in the fourth. But once again, the Oklahoma offense started clawing back, with a run in the 5th, two runs in the 7th, and two more in the 8th. 

But, pitchers Braylon Meyers and Carson Ozmer combined to shut things down to secure the win for Alabama. 

Aeden Finateri got the start for Alabama on the mound to replace Quick in the rotation, and he gave them a solid 4.2 innings. 

Other takeaways from the weekend

• Alabama needs transfer Torres and Bryce Fowler to get back on track if the offense is going to compete at the top. After cold starts to SEC play, both had a big weekend. 

  • Torres: 4-12, 1 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB

  • Fowler: 5-10, 4 R, 2 2B, 3 BB,1 HBP 

  • Fowler had several nice defensive plays in right field as well. 

• Other than the injury scare to LeBron, Alabama also saw Bonomolo and Kade Snell leave Sunday’s game after a scary collision in the outfield. Bonomolo was able to re-enter the game, but Snell – who has been Alabama’s best hitter lately – did not return. 

• Oklahoma lost outfielder Trey Gambill in Sunday’s game due to an injury. 

• Sunday’s game featured two rain delays

• Tockey had a big weekend for Oklahoma, driving in 5 runs

Up Next:

• Alabama faces a tough Samford team on Tuesday in Tuscaloosa and then will travel to face their rival Auburn, who was just swept at Georgia. 

• It will be a challenging week for Oklahoma, as they play Texas Tech in Frisco and then host LSU, who just swept Mississippi State at home. 

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