TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Alabama Crimson Tide staged a dramatic comeback, after leading much of the game, to defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 8-6 on Friday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama was fueled by a three-run eighth inning capped by Jason Torres’ RBI single. The victory snapped Alabama’s skid after dropping a series to Tennessee last week, while Oklahoma’s bid to extend its hot streak fell just short in a game that saw a couple of lead changes in the final two innings.
The game started as a pitcher’s duel between Alabama’s Zane Adams (4-0, 3.56 ERA) and Oklahoma’s Kyson Witherspoon (5-1, 1.80 ERA), but the Tide broke through first. Alabama, which has outscored opponents 57-11 in the second inning this season, plated two runs in the second inning, sparked by Garrett Staton’s RBI double. Justin Lebron's solo home run in the third inning, along with Staton being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, stretched the lead to 4-0. But Oklahoma responded in the fourth when Drew Dickerson crushed a two-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to 4-2. The Sooners’ comeback gained steam in the seventh, narrowing the gap to 5-4 with Jaxon Willits’ RBI single and a double play that scored Jason Walk.
The eighth inning turned the game upside down. Dayton Tockey’s two-run homer gave Oklahoma its first lead at 6-5, but Alabama roared back in the bottom half. Kade Snell’s RBI single tied it, Will Plattner’s RBI double put the Tide ahead, and Torres’ single to left made it 8-6. In the ninth, Oklahoma loaded the bases with two outs, but Dasan Harris’ fielder’s choice, that got Trey Gambill out at second, ended the threat, sealing Alabama’s win. Carson Ozmer (3-0) earned the victory with two innings of relief, while Witherspoon’s modest start (4 IP, 4 R, 6 K) wasn’t enough for the Sooners.
Alabama outhit Oklahoma 12-10, with Lebron (3-for-5, HR, 2B) and Snell (3-for-4, 2 RBI) shining for the Tide. Dickerson (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI) and Tockey (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) led Oklahoma’s charge. Oklahoma will aim for a victory tomorrow in Game 2 of the series. The game begins at 12 PM CST on the SEC Network. The Crimson Tide are looking to win the series at home, while the Sooners are trying to bounce back after a hard-fought loss.
The game started as a pitcher’s duel between Alabama’s Zane Adams (4-0, 3.56 ERA) and Oklahoma’s Kyson Witherspoon (5-1, 1.80 ERA), but the Tide broke through first. Alabama, which has outscored opponents 57-11 in the second inning this season, plated two runs in the second inning, sparked by Garrett Staton’s RBI double. Justin Lebron's solo home run in the third inning, along with Staton being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, stretched the lead to 4-0. But Oklahoma responded in the fourth when Drew Dickerson crushed a two-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to 4-2. The Sooners’ comeback gained steam in the seventh, narrowing the gap to 5-4 with Jaxon Willits’ RBI single and a double play that scored Jason Walk.
The eighth inning turned the game upside down. Dayton Tockey’s two-run homer gave Oklahoma its first lead at 6-5, but Alabama roared back in the bottom half. Kade Snell’s RBI single tied it, Will Plattner’s RBI double put the Tide ahead, and Torres’ single to left made it 8-6. In the ninth, Oklahoma loaded the bases with two outs, but Dasan Harris’ fielder’s choice, that got Trey Gambill out at second, ended the threat, sealing Alabama’s win. Carson Ozmer (3-0) earned the victory with two innings of relief, while Witherspoon’s modest start (4 IP, 4 R, 6 K) wasn’t enough for the Sooners.
Alabama outhit Oklahoma 12-10, with Lebron (3-for-5, HR, 2B) and Snell (3-for-4, 2 RBI) shining for the Tide. Dickerson (1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI) and Tockey (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) led Oklahoma’s charge. Oklahoma will aim for a victory tomorrow in Game 2 of the series. The game begins at 12 PM CST on the SEC Network. The Crimson Tide are looking to win the series at home, while the Sooners are trying to bounce back after a hard-fought loss.
