Sooners Dominate CWS Opener
Oklahoma Dominates Alabama 9-0 in College World Series Opener Behind Rager's Stellar Pitching
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Key Points
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Oklahoma built the rout early with specific scoring details: it opened the first inning with singles by Jason Walk and Jaxon Willits, then Trey Gambill hit a two-run double off Alabama starter Tyler Fay. The Sooners extended to 3-0 in the third when Deiten Lachance grounded into a double play to score Walk, who had earlier walked and stole second. Later, Deiten Lachance added a two-run home run in the sixth to push the lead to 5-0.
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Cord Rager’s control was notably precise: he struck out eight, walked none, and needed only 88 pitches (63 strikes) across seven innings. He allowed just three hits and hit one batter—three over the minimum through seven frames.
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The game report highlighted the nature of Oklahoma’s defensive impact beyond “sharp defense,” including a slick fifth-inning double play started by Dayton Tockey, plus defensive plays described as “clever leather” at multiple infield spots (Camden Johnson at third and Kyle Branch at second).
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Alabama arrived at the College World Series with a strong postseason run—going 5-0 in its NCAA Regional/Super Regional—and carried a difficult regular-season context that players addressed publicly. Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron said the team’s “ups and downs…against very good teams” would “really come out in the postseason.”
Freshman left-hander Cord Rager dominated from the first pitch, and Oklahoma dismantled seventh-seeded Alabama 9-0 in the opening round of the 2026 Men's College World Series on Friday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. The Sooners struck early, never let up, and advance to the winner's bracket — while Alabama faces a do-or-die elimination game after its first CWS appearance since 1999 ended in a blowout.
Rager, a 6-foot-6 Texan in his first college season, threw seven scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits, struck out eight, and walked nobody — finishing on only 88 pitches. Oklahoma also got the big emotional swing of the game: catcher Deiten Lachance hit a 409-foot home run in the sixth inning despite visibly limping from a sprained ankle he suffered in the first.
Oklahoma Scores Early and Never Looks Back
Oklahoma wasted no time. In the first inning, Jason Walk and Jaxon Willits hit back-to-back singles. Then Trey Gambill lined a two-run double to right-center off Alabama starter Tyler Fay, making it 2-0. The Sooners pushed it to 3-0 in the third when Walk drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and eventually scored on a double-play grounder by Lachance.
The game broke wide open in the eighth. Oklahoma plated four runs on five hits, getting RBI contributions from Willits, Brendan Brock, and Dasan Harris. The final score of 9-0 marked Oklahoma's first shutout in Omaha in 51 years — their last came in 1975 against Eastern Michigan, according to Saturday Down South.
Cord Rager Carves Up Alabama With Freshman Poise
Rager was masterful. He retired batters efficiently, throwing 63 of his 88 pitches for strikes — a 71.5% strike rate. Alabama did not get its first hit until the fifth inning, when John Lemm singled up the middle. Rager fanned the side in the seventh before giving way to reliever LJ Mercurius, who closed out the final two innings.
Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson was not surprised. "I don't consider those guys freshmen anymore," Johnson said. "They've been through the gauntlet." The performance was especially notable because Alabama entered the tournament 5-0 in postseason play and had held a 2-1 regular-season series edge over Oklahoma from an April matchup in Norman.
Lachance Hobbles to the Plate, Then Goes 409 Feet
The game's defining moment came in the sixth inning. Lachance — nicknamed "Big Maple" — rolled his left ankle badly while running in the first inning. He stayed in the lineup anyway. With Camden Johnson on base, Lachance launched a two-run home run to left field, clocked at 110 mph off the bat, stretching the lead to 5-0.
Oklahoma's defense was just as sharp. First baseman Dayton Tockey started a slick double play in the fifth to kill Alabama's only real threat. Third baseman Camden Johnson and second baseman Kyle Branch were also praised for what analysts called "clever leather" — smart positioning that took away multiple potential hits. Oklahoma finished with 11 hits on the day, their sixth straight game with double-digit hits.
Alabama's 27-Year Wait Ends in a Hard Loss
For Alabama, this was supposed to be a breakthrough moment. The Crimson Tide had not played in the College World Series since 1999 — a 27-year drought. They arrived hot, winning all five of their regional and super-regional games, including an 8-0 win by Tyler Fay over St. John's. But Fay struggled against Oklahoma's lineup, allowing five runs in six innings.
Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron had spoken before the game about the value of a difficult season. "I think it's a very good thing for teams like us to go through the ups and downs," Lebron said. "Learning how to handle those without panicking really helps you out in the postseason." Alabama now heads to the loser's bracket and must win Monday just to stay alive. Oklahoma, meanwhile, plays the winner of Georgia-Texas on Monday at 6:00 PM CT on ESPN.
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