The Sooners are headed back to the College World Series for the first time in 12 years. They slugged their way past the fourth-seeded Virginia Tech Hokies 11-2 in the rubber match in Blacksburg to take the series, grab one of the eight spots in Omaha and continue this magical run.
Like so many other times this season, the Sooners simply battered an opponent’s pitching. They did so from the get-go, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the top of the first courtesy of homers by shortstop Peyton Graham and center fielder Tanner Tredaway.
The Hokies evened things up with a home run of their own in the bottom of the third. Third baseman Carson DeMartini left the yard in right center for a two-run shot.
It started with three in the top of the fourth. Tredaway homered for the second time, designated hitter Brett Squires added an RBI single and left fielder Kendall Pettis recorded a sacrifice fly.
Oklahoma extended that lead to 7-2 in the fifth. That’s when first baseman Blake Robertson doubled home a run and Tredaway stayed hot with another run-scoring double.
Lone tallies were put up by the Sooners in the sixth through ninth innings. Pettis homered for the first of those four. Then, catcher Jimmy Crooks singled one home the following inning. In the eighth, second baseman Jackson Nicklaus became the fourth different Sooner to go deep, and an RBI groundout by third baseman Wallace Clark completed the barrage in the ninth.
In total, Oklahoma pounded out 15 hits and scored a run on five different pitchers. Jordan Geber was the first of those, tagged with the loss while permitting four earned runs on five hits, with three strikeouts, in three innings.
It was a different story for Oklahoma’s pitching. Cade Horton allowed only the two earned runs on two hits and two walks, striking out eight in six innings. He gave way to Chazz Martinez and Trevin Michael in the final three frames.
The Sooners (42-22) are now 5-2 this postseason after collecting only three postseason wins since their last Super Regionals appearance back in 2013. They’ll now take on Texas A&M in the opening round of the CWS this upcoming weekend.
source: 247Sports
