Norman, OK – The No. 19 Oklahoma Sooners broke their four-game losing streak in emphatic fashion, defeating the No. 17 Vanderbilt Commodores 9-3 on Friday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Coming off a weekend sweep by LSU and a midweek thrashing by DBU, Oklahoma desperately needed a spark—and they found it against a ranked opponent, bolstering their resume with another quality win.
With regular starter Kyson Witherspoon sidelined by muscle spasms, Cade Crossland stepped up and delivered a gem. The right-hander tossed 5.2 innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out eight and walking two. Crossland’s command kept Vanderbilt’s potent lineup in check, earning him the win and setting the tone for Oklahoma’s bounce-back performance.
Oklahoma’s bats, dormant in recent games, erupted early. In the bottom of the first, Sam Christiansen ripped an RBI double down the right-field line, scoring Jaxon Willits and advancing Easton Carmichael to third. Jason Walk followed with a two-RBI triple to right-center, plating Christiansen and Carmichael. Drew Dickerson’s groundout allowed Walk to scamper home, capping a four-run first inning that gave the Sooners a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Commodores didn’t go quietly. In the third, Mac Rose’s RBI single scored Jayden Davis, trimming the deficit to 4-1. Vanderbilt clawed closer in the sixth when Colin Barczi reached on a throwing error by Dawson Willis, allowing Jonathan Vastine to score and make it 4-2. Jacob Humphrey’s solo homer in the seventh pulled Vandy within one at 4-3, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Oklahoma’s offense answered decisively, though. Jaxon Willits led off the seventh with a solo homer, igniting a three-run frame. Jason Walk singled, advanced on a throwing error, and scored on a passed ball. Dayton Tockey’s RBI double scored Dickerson, pushing the lead to 7-3. In the eighth, Trey Gambill’s RBI single brought home Willis, and Willits’ single set up a wild pitch that scored Gambill, finalizing the 9-3 margin.
Key Playmakers
Looking Ahead
The win not only halts Oklahoma’s slide but also provides momentum as they continue their series against Vanderbilt.With Crossland’s standout start and a reawakened offense, the Sooners look to build on this performance and climb back into the SEC race. Game two is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. CT on SECN+ in Norman as the Sooners look to take the series early.
With regular starter Kyson Witherspoon sidelined by muscle spasms, Cade Crossland stepped up and delivered a gem. The right-hander tossed 5.2 innings, allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out eight and walking two. Crossland’s command kept Vanderbilt’s potent lineup in check, earning him the win and setting the tone for Oklahoma’s bounce-back performance.
Oklahoma’s bats, dormant in recent games, erupted early. In the bottom of the first, Sam Christiansen ripped an RBI double down the right-field line, scoring Jaxon Willits and advancing Easton Carmichael to third. Jason Walk followed with a two-RBI triple to right-center, plating Christiansen and Carmichael. Drew Dickerson’s groundout allowed Walk to scamper home, capping a four-run first inning that gave the Sooners a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Commodores didn’t go quietly. In the third, Mac Rose’s RBI single scored Jayden Davis, trimming the deficit to 4-1. Vanderbilt clawed closer in the sixth when Colin Barczi reached on a throwing error by Dawson Willis, allowing Jonathan Vastine to score and make it 4-2. Jacob Humphrey’s solo homer in the seventh pulled Vandy within one at 4-3, setting the stage for a tense finish.
Oklahoma’s offense answered decisively, though. Jaxon Willits led off the seventh with a solo homer, igniting a three-run frame. Jason Walk singled, advanced on a throwing error, and scored on a passed ball. Dayton Tockey’s RBI double scored Dickerson, pushing the lead to 7-3. In the eighth, Trey Gambill’s RBI single brought home Willis, and Willits’ single set up a wild pitch that scored Gambill, finalizing the 9-3 margin.
Key Playmakers
- Jason Walk: 3-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double, triple
- Jaxon Willits: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI, homer
Looking Ahead
The win not only halts Oklahoma’s slide but also provides momentum as they continue their series against Vanderbilt.With Crossland’s standout start and a reawakened offense, the Sooners look to build on this performance and climb back into the SEC race. Game two is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. CT on SECN+ in Norman as the Sooners look to take the series early.
