TUSCALOOSA, AL – The Alabama Crimson Tide fended off a spirited comeback attempt by the Oklahoma Sooners to secure an 8-6 victory on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at Sewell-Thomas Stadium, clinching the rubber match of the series. A clutch two-run homer by Dayton Tockey in the eighth inning brought the Sooners within striking distance, but Alabama’s Carson Ozmer shut the door in the ninth to earn his seventh save of the season. The loss marks Oklahoma’s first SEC series defeat in their inaugural season in the conference.
The game started with a flurry of action. Oklahoma struck first in the top of the opening inning when Jaxon Willits’ RBI single scored Jason Walk, giving the Sooners a 1-0 lead. Alabama responded emphatically in the bottom half, as Jason Torres launched a three-run homer to right field, flipping the score to 3-1. The Crimson Tide continued to build their lead, capitalizing on strong hitting and Oklahoma’s miscues, including a Bryce Fowler double in the second and a Hodo solo shot in the third, pushing the advantage to 5-1. By the fourth inning, Alabama had erupted for three more runs, thanks to a series of errors and timely hitting, ballooning the score to 8-1.
Oklahoma’s comeback began in the fifth when a collision between Alabama outfielders Kade Snell and Richie Bonomolo Jr. allowed Jason Walk to race around the bases for an inside-the-park home run, cutting the deficit to 8-2. The Sooners found their rhythm in the seventh, loading the bases and plating two runs via a fielder’s choice by Dasan Harris and an RBI single from Brayden Horton, making it 8-4. The tension peaked in the eighth when Tockey’s two-run blast to right field trimmed Alabama’s lead to 8-6, shocking the crowd of 3,625. However, Oklahoma’s hopes were dashed in the ninth as Ozmer retired the side, sealing the Crimson Tide’s victory after a 34-minute rain delay in the eighth had briefly halted play.
Key Stats: Alabama outhit Oklahoma 9-8, with Torres (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs) and Fowler (2-for-3, two doubles, 2 R) leading the charge. For the Sooners, Tockey’s 1-for-4 day included the clutch two-run homer, while Walk went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, including the rare inside-the-park homer. On the mound, Alabama starter Aeden Finateri earned the win (4.2 IP, 2 R, 4 Ks), while Oklahoma’s Malachi Witherspoon struggled (5 IP, 8 R, 6 Ks).
The game showcased Alabama’s early firepower and resilience, handing the Sooners a harsh lesson in their new conference. Despite the late surge, Oklahoma couldn’t overcome their early deficit, leaving Tuscaloosa with a series loss to ponder.
What’s Next: Alabama (25-4) looks to carry the momentum into their next matchup against Samford on April 1, then Auburn on April 4, while Oklahoma (22-5) aims to rebound against Texas Tech on April 1, and LSU on April 4, hoping to avoid further stumbles in their SEC debut season.
The game started with a flurry of action. Oklahoma struck first in the top of the opening inning when Jaxon Willits’ RBI single scored Jason Walk, giving the Sooners a 1-0 lead. Alabama responded emphatically in the bottom half, as Jason Torres launched a three-run homer to right field, flipping the score to 3-1. The Crimson Tide continued to build their lead, capitalizing on strong hitting and Oklahoma’s miscues, including a Bryce Fowler double in the second and a Hodo solo shot in the third, pushing the advantage to 5-1. By the fourth inning, Alabama had erupted for three more runs, thanks to a series of errors and timely hitting, ballooning the score to 8-1.
Oklahoma’s comeback began in the fifth when a collision between Alabama outfielders Kade Snell and Richie Bonomolo Jr. allowed Jason Walk to race around the bases for an inside-the-park home run, cutting the deficit to 8-2. The Sooners found their rhythm in the seventh, loading the bases and plating two runs via a fielder’s choice by Dasan Harris and an RBI single from Brayden Horton, making it 8-4. The tension peaked in the eighth when Tockey’s two-run blast to right field trimmed Alabama’s lead to 8-6, shocking the crowd of 3,625. However, Oklahoma’s hopes were dashed in the ninth as Ozmer retired the side, sealing the Crimson Tide’s victory after a 34-minute rain delay in the eighth had briefly halted play.
Key Stats: Alabama outhit Oklahoma 9-8, with Torres (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs) and Fowler (2-for-3, two doubles, 2 R) leading the charge. For the Sooners, Tockey’s 1-for-4 day included the clutch two-run homer, while Walk went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, including the rare inside-the-park homer. On the mound, Alabama starter Aeden Finateri earned the win (4.2 IP, 2 R, 4 Ks), while Oklahoma’s Malachi Witherspoon struggled (5 IP, 8 R, 6 Ks).
The game showcased Alabama’s early firepower and resilience, handing the Sooners a harsh lesson in their new conference. Despite the late surge, Oklahoma couldn’t overcome their early deficit, leaving Tuscaloosa with a series loss to ponder.
What’s Next: Alabama (25-4) looks to carry the momentum into their next matchup against Samford on April 1, then Auburn on April 4, while Oklahoma (22-5) aims to rebound against Texas Tech on April 1, and LSU on April 4, hoping to avoid further stumbles in their SEC debut season.
