Alabama shutout by Oklahoma in first CWS game since 1999

OMAHA, Neb. (WTVY) - After a complete sweep during their Regional and Super Regional run, the Alabama Crimson Tide were ready to take Omaha by storm in their first appearance in the Men’s College World Series since before the turn of the century.

Unfortunately for the Tide, they ran into a major road block in the form of the Oklahoma Sooners, who made their way to The Greatest Show on Dirt for the 12th time in program history off a run that included upsets of national title favorite Georgia Tech in Atlanta and eliminating Kansas on the road in two games to advance to Omaha.

The Sooners quite simply dominated from beginning to end during the early afternoon game of Day 2’s action at The Chuck, as they went on to completely silence Alabama on the scoreboard en route to a 9-0 shutout.

That “from beginning” part was quite literal for Oklahoma, as soon as the top of the first inning at that, as after creating a little bit of early action on the bags off of Bama starter Tyler Fay, Trey Gambill would send a hard hit out to right center bring in the opening two runs of the game.

Alabama’s offense had a very hard time getting going, as Sooners pitcher Cord Rager kept the Crimson Tide hitless through 4 innings before Alabama would finally get into the column in the bottom of the 5th with a center field chop by John Lemm, though a pair of hits that inning would be all the boys from Tuscaloosa could muster in that portion of play.

Oklahoma’s bats stayed lively though, even from players suffering their own struggles, like Sooners catcher Deiten LaChance who roughly turned his ankle on offense in the opening inning that saw him looking extremely hobbled the remainder of the contest.

Even with that physical issue though, LaChance produced three RBIs for Oklahoma, one coming after hitting into a double play in the top of the third to make it 3-0, and the other two coming in the top of the 6th with a blast to left field for the lone home run of the afternoon to make it 5-0 for Norman’s finest.

The top of the 8th would produce the most offensive fireworks for OU, as three runs would come across off great placed balls into the outfield from Jaxon Willits, Trey Gambill and Dasan Harris that took advantage of multiple players reaching base for the Sooners, as the lead extended out to 9-0 heading into the final few frames.

LJ Mercurius would be the one to finish play on the mound for Oklahoma, but the play from Rager was the biggest factor in the dominant defensive showcase for them, as he went 7 innings allowing just three hits while recording a tied-for-season-high 8 strikeouts. Mercurius added two strikeouts of his own and just two hits allowed in two innings pitched.

Tide starting pitcher Tyler Fay went six inning in the Saturday contest, allowing six hits and 5 runs while walking two and striking out six. Sam Mitchell, Evan Steckmesser, and Ashton Crowther all also pitched in the game for Alabama, allowing 5 total hits among them and four runs while recording two more strikeouts.

With the loss, Alabama will now have to regroup and prepare for a potentially tougher contest in the losers bracket, as they will take on one of two other SEC foes who have been offensively impressive in the 2026 season: the national No. 3 seed and conference champion Georgia Bulldogs or the national No. 6 seed Texas Longhorns. That game is set for 1 p.m. on Monday, June 15, from Charles Schwab Field.

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