Sooners Shut Out Crimson Tide Behind Rager Gem

OMAHA, Neb. – Behind the third straight superlative efficiency from freshman lefthander Cord Rager, Oklahoma (39-22) posted an authoritative 9-0 shutout over No. 7 nationwide seed Alabama (42-20) in a first-round College World Series recreation on Saturday afternoon earlier than a sellout crowd of 24,579 at Charles Schwab Field.

In his longest outing as a Sooner, Rager (6-3) threw 7.0 innings, scattered three hits and struck out eight whereas needing simply 88 pitches to take action.

Helping OU’s trigger was an 11-hit assault that included a two-run dwelling run from injured junior catcher Deiten Lachance, who sprained his left ankle when he misstepped on the left facet of second base within the first inning. Lachance had his ankle closely taped, remained within the recreation and completed 2 for five on the plate with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Asked afterward in an ESPN interview how a lot ache he was in, the well-humored Lachance smiled and stated, “I felt fine, 100 percent. I’m good to go. There was no problem.”

Jaxon Willits and Dasan Harris every went 2 for 4. Eight starters had a minimum of one hit.

With the victory, OU advances to play at 6 p.m. Monday towards the winner of Saturday night time’s opening-round recreation between Texas and Georgia.

It was the third straight high quality begin for the 6-foot-6, 237-pound Rager, all coming within the NCAA Tournament. In his most up-to-date outing, Rager surrendered only one hit and struck out six whereas going six innings OU’s 8-1 victory at No. 15 Kansas within the Lawrence Super Regional on June 6.

Rager did not permit successful towards the Crimson Tide till the underside of the fifth inning when he opened by surrendering back-to-back singles. A 3-6-3 double play orchestrated by first baseman Dayton Tockey ended the menace.

“I just tried to tell myself, ‘It’s like any other game.’ And I just worked the process. And everything else just kind of fades away,” Rager stated. “So I had tunnel focus. The double play that Deiten made and all the plays the defense made are always helpful and always just take a little stress out of throwing.”

OU coach Skip Johnson stated, “Cord did a great job of staying in the process. Our defense was really good. Our at-bats, (we weren’t) chasing pitches that we’ve chased before. Getting good at-bats and sustained some rallies. And LaChance hits a big home run to separate the game.”

Rager left the sport after putting out the facet within the seventh.

“He attacked,” LaChance stated of Rager’s dominating efficiency. “Every inning, that’s all he does. He’s just attacking you. That’s all we need from him right now.”

Rager’s curveball was significantly efficient and complemented command of his fastball.

“Location’s always something you work on,” Rager stated. “I’ve always been good with location. And knowing I had my curveball today, which my curveball was on today. And to get those hitters out without having to change really. It was the back-foot curve. It worked well for me today. I could rely on it, and I had the location with it. I just had good feel with it today.”

Lachance stated of Rager’s curve: “He can use it any time he wants. He can throw a strike whenever he wants with it. He’s nasty, man. That’s why he’s the best pitcher in the country. Best freshman in the country for sure.”

Designated hitter Trey Gambill gave the Sooners a 2-0 within the prime of the primary with a two-run single that scored Lachance and Willits.

Center fielder Jason Walk walked to start out the third inning, stole second and superior to 3rd on Camden Johnson’s line-drive single to proper. Walk then scored on a double-play ball to push the Sooners’ result in 3-0.

Lachance gave the Sooners a 5-0 lead along with his two-run homer within the prime of the sixth. His 409-foot line drive over the left-field wall had an exit velocity of 110.0 mph. Limping badly on his closely taped left ankle, Lachance cautiously hobbled his approach across the bases.

It was his sixteenth homer of the season, all coming within the final 29 video games after going homerless within the first 31 video games. “He (Alabama ace Tyler Fay) gave me a good pitch to hit and I didn’t miss it,” Lachance stated.

Jaxon Willits made it 6-0 with a single to middle within the prime of the eighth to attain Lachance. Brendan Brock adopted with a single up the center to attain a limping Lachance from second base to place OU in entrance 7-0.

Harris set the ultimate margin with a two-run single to right-center to attain Willits and Brock.

Junior righthander L.J. Mercurius relieved Rager and threw two scoreless innings.

“I’m really proud of these kids for staying in the process,” Johnson stated. “Really one pitch at a time. That’s what they did. That’s what we talk about. That’s what we preach. And I’m really proud of them for doing that and staying in the routines.”

Pitchers of Record
Win: Cord Rager (6-3)
Loss: Tyler Fay (11-5)

Statistical Snapshot

Cord Rager | W, 7.0 IP, 3H, 0R, 0BB, 8Ks, 88 pitches

Deiten Lachance | 2-for-5, 3R, HR, 2RBIs

Jaxon Willits | 2-for-4, 2R, RBI

Dasan Harris | 2-for-4, 2RBIs

Notes

• Rager turned in his third consecutive begin of six or extra innings, all of which have are available in NCAA Tournament play. Prior to postseason play Rager had not gone longer than 5 innings
• It was the biggest shutout victory for a crew within the opening recreation of the CWS since 2002
• The shutout was OU’s third on the College World Series in program historical past and first since 1975 (7-0, Eastern Michigan)
• Lachance hit his twelfth dwelling run since May 2, essentially the most in NCAA Division I throughout that point span. It was Lachance’s fourth homer in NCAA Tournament play
• Rager is simply the third Sooner in College World Series historical past to spin seven or extra shutout innings
• Lachance posted his sixteenth multi-RBI recreation efficiency of the 12 months, a crew greatest
• Walk prolonged his reached base streak to 18 video games, a crew greatest
• Oklahoma has received six in a row. During that stretch the Sooners have defeated The Citadel, Georgia Tech (twice), Kansas (twice) and Alabama
• The Sooners at the moment are 19-18 within the College World Series and 4-2 below head coach Skip Johnson
• Three Sooners posted multi-hit days. Eight of OU’s 9 batters reached through a minimum of one hit.
• Rager tied a season excessive with eight strikeouts. He’s reached eight 4 instances this 12 months and twice in postseason play
• It was OU’s twenty fifth recreation with out committing an error
• The Sooners defeated Texas A&M, 13-8, within the opening recreation of the 2022 College World Series. OU would advance to the championship collection that season
• OU has received the opening recreation of the College World Series seven of 12 instances, together with three straight
• OU’s leadoff batter reached in 5 of 9 innings
• OU tallied 5 two-out runs
• The Sooners hit .556 with runners in scoring place

Up Next
Oklahoma will face the winner of Texas and Georgia within the 1-0 recreation Monday, June 15 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN from Charles Schwab Field Omaha.