CHAPEL HILL, NC — The Oklahoma Sooners delivered a resounding 17-1 rout over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in an elimination game at the Chapel Hill Regionals on Sunday, keeping their postseason alive. The victory sets up a rematch with North Carolina in the regional final at 5 PM CST tonight, following a loss to the Tar Heels on Saturday. The Sooners’ offensive explosion, paired with a stellar pitching performance from Cade Crossland, overwhelmed Nebraska and sent the Cornhuskers home.
After struggling to convert 12 hits into runs in their 11-5 loss to North Carolina, Oklahoma’s bats erupted for 17 runs on 18 hits, capitalizing on Nebraska’s five errors. Every Sooner in the starting lineup (except Mason Hamlin, who only had one at-bat in the ninth) recorded a hit, with seven players driving in at least one run. Easton Carmichael led the charge, smashing a three-run homer in the sixth inning—his third multi-homer game this season. Jaxon Willits, quiet earlier in the regional, broke out with three RBIs, while Dasan Harris, Sam Christiansen, Kyle Branch, and Dawson Willis each contributed two RBIs. Scott Mudler and Drew Dickerson added one RBI apiece to help the Oklahoma offense.
The Sooners wasted no time, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Nebraska’s early errors put Jason Walk and Easton Carmichael on base, and Drew Dickerson’s single loaded the bases. Willits laced a single to score two, and Christiansen’s fielder’s choice plated Dickerson. The third inning saw Oklahoma’s offense unleash a seven-hit barrage, highlighted by Carmichael’s leadoff homer, doubles from Willits and Mudler, a Christiansen triple, and a Kyle Branch sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 9-0.
Oklahoma kept pouring it on. In the fourth, Christiansen doubled and scored on Branch’s RBI single, making it 10-0. The sixth inning brought another onslaught, with Carmichael’s three-run blast capping a five-run frame to stretch the lead to 15-0. Nebraska finally scored in the sixth, as Dylan Carey’s RBI single followed Oklahoma’s lone error, but the deficit remained insurmountable at 15-1. The Sooners tacked on two more runs in the eighth via Harris’s RBI double and Dickerson’s sacrifice fly, sealing the 17-1 final.
Cade Crossland was lights-out on the mound, delivering what may be his best start of the season. The left-hander tossed seven innings, allowing five hits, no earned runs, two walks, and striking out nine. His command in the biggest game of the year stifled Nebraska’s offense and set the tone for Oklahoma’s dominant performance.
Up Next:
The Sooners now face a daunting challenge against North Carolina, who defeated them last night. To advance out of the Chapel Hill Regional, Oklahoma must win tonight and again tomorrow. With their offense firing on all cylinders and Crossland’s gem providing momentum, the Sooners are poised to carry this energy into the final. Fans can expect a high-stakes battle as Oklahoma aims to keep its season alive.
Oklahoma vs. North Carolina, Chapel Hill Regional Final, 5 PM CST.
After struggling to convert 12 hits into runs in their 11-5 loss to North Carolina, Oklahoma’s bats erupted for 17 runs on 18 hits, capitalizing on Nebraska’s five errors. Every Sooner in the starting lineup (except Mason Hamlin, who only had one at-bat in the ninth) recorded a hit, with seven players driving in at least one run. Easton Carmichael led the charge, smashing a three-run homer in the sixth inning—his third multi-homer game this season. Jaxon Willits, quiet earlier in the regional, broke out with three RBIs, while Dasan Harris, Sam Christiansen, Kyle Branch, and Dawson Willis each contributed two RBIs. Scott Mudler and Drew Dickerson added one RBI apiece to help the Oklahoma offense.
The Sooners wasted no time, jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Nebraska’s early errors put Jason Walk and Easton Carmichael on base, and Drew Dickerson’s single loaded the bases. Willits laced a single to score two, and Christiansen’s fielder’s choice plated Dickerson. The third inning saw Oklahoma’s offense unleash a seven-hit barrage, highlighted by Carmichael’s leadoff homer, doubles from Willits and Mudler, a Christiansen triple, and a Kyle Branch sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 9-0.
Oklahoma kept pouring it on. In the fourth, Christiansen doubled and scored on Branch’s RBI single, making it 10-0. The sixth inning brought another onslaught, with Carmichael’s three-run blast capping a five-run frame to stretch the lead to 15-0. Nebraska finally scored in the sixth, as Dylan Carey’s RBI single followed Oklahoma’s lone error, but the deficit remained insurmountable at 15-1. The Sooners tacked on two more runs in the eighth via Harris’s RBI double and Dickerson’s sacrifice fly, sealing the 17-1 final.
Cade Crossland was lights-out on the mound, delivering what may be his best start of the season. The left-hander tossed seven innings, allowing five hits, no earned runs, two walks, and striking out nine. His command in the biggest game of the year stifled Nebraska’s offense and set the tone for Oklahoma’s dominant performance.
Up Next:
The Sooners now face a daunting challenge against North Carolina, who defeated them last night. To advance out of the Chapel Hill Regional, Oklahoma must win tonight and again tomorrow. With their offense firing on all cylinders and Crossland’s gem providing momentum, the Sooners are poised to carry this energy into the final. Fans can expect a high-stakes battle as Oklahoma aims to keep its season alive.
Oklahoma vs. North Carolina, Chapel Hill Regional Final, 5 PM CST.
