The Oklahoma Sooners are now just one win away from a return to the College World Series after a commanding performance to open their super regional. Oklahoma rolled past Kansas by a score of 8-1 in game one of the Lawrence Super Regional, taking control early and never letting go on the road in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Sooners walked into the matchup carrying plenty of momentum. Just days earlier, they had upset Georgia Tech, the two seed in the tournament, a result that set the tone for their postseason run and gave them confidence heading into a hostile environment against the Jayhawks.
The game began as a pitchers' duel before Oklahoma broke through in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, the Sooners pushed across a run and then broke the game open with a home run from Dayton Taki, the first of three home runs the team would hit on the night, to take a 4-0 lead.
Just as impressive as the offense was the work on the mound. True freshman Cord Rager turned in six shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six. His steady outing kept Kansas off the board through the heart of the game and allowed Oklahoma to build its advantage without pressure.
The Sooners kept adding on as the game went along. By the top of the seventh inning they were well in front, with a base hit from Brendan Brock bringing home another run, and the lead swelling to eight. The steady stream of offense turned what had been a tight early game into a comfortable cushion.
To close it out, LJ Mercurius pitched the final three innings and recorded the save, sealing the 8-1 final for coach Skip Johnson's team. The complete performance, strong starting pitching, timely power and a reliable finish, left little doubt about which side controlled game one.
Oklahoma now stands one victory away from a 12th trip to the College World Series. The Sooners will look to finish the job in game two against the Jayhawks, scheduled for 5 o'clock the following evening in Lawrence, with Xander Mercurius, brother of LJ, set to take the mound for Oklahoma.