Oklahoma baseball: Sooners hold off Aggies, await Notre Dame Sunday

The unforgettable Oklahoma baseball postseason run continues, as the sizzling Sooners opened the Men’s College World Series with a statement.

After shocking the Florida Gator fans as the road team in Gainesville, then following that up with an upset Super Regional series win over host and No. 4-seeded Virginia Tech, the Sooners rode into Omaha, Nebraska, unseeded but with a definite purpose.

On Friday, OU opened the 2022 MCWS against Texas A&M, another team that has caught the late-season wind to advance to the national championship baseball tournament as the No, 4 seed. The game had barely gotten underway at midday Friday before the Sooners stunned their former Big 12 foe with a seven-spot in the second inning.

After a two-run single by Blake Robertson, followed by an RBI single by Tanner Tredaway, catcher Jimmy Crooks belted a three-run homer over the right field wall in the Sooners’ second at bat to jump out to an 8-0 lead over the shell-shocked Aggies. Oklahoma continues to capitalize with runners in scoring position, which has been a key part for them in the postseason.

"“We just want to attack the game and play with no fear,” second baseman Jackson Nicklaus said. “We had a game plan. We wanted to execute early. We did. Jumped on them and it led to our victory.”"

The Sooners did in fact execute early and continued their red-hot bats. OU has scored eight or more runs in five of the eight NCAA Tournament games they have played this postseason. Tredaway continued his searing postseason play, going three-for-six at the plate with an RBI, and two runs. The Sooner senior center fielder is batting .636 in the last two games.

After a scoreless third inning, Jackson Nicholas broke the game open, even more with a grand slam to extend the OU lead to 12-3 in the 4th. It was the only hit for Nicholas on the day, but it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I saw the pitch out of the hand, a nice fastball, and just tried to put a good swing on it,” Nicholas said. It was the 11th homer of the season for Nicholas, and two of them coming in back-to-back games.

Although the Sooner bats got much of the credit in the MCWS opener, redshirt sophomore pitcher Jake Bennett had another solid outing. Bennett completed the day going six innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out three Aggie hitters. Despite giving up two homers the big lefty restrained the Aggies’ bats.

Bennett praised how big it was pitching behind a comfortable lead:

"“Getting that early run, it allows you to settle down and make pitches and let your defense work behind you,” Bennett said."

Although it got shaky in the later innings, when Texas A&M cut the lead to 12-8, the Sooners leaned on closer Trevin Michael to shut the door. Michael only allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings and recorded three strikeouts. The NOC-Tonkawa product, and Piedmont native continues to be the Sooners’ answer late in the game.

Now Oklahoma gets a date with Notre Dame in the winner’s bracket on Sunday night. It will feature two of the hottest teams in college baseball currently.