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WATCH: Fourth-inning grand slam keeps Oklahoma offense rolling vs. Texas A&M

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•06/17/22•

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Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Oklahoma is literally putting the boom in “Boomer Sooner” on Friday. The Sooners’ offensive explosion continued in the fourth inning vs. Texas A&M in the College World Series.

After Aggies coach Jim Schlossnagle went out to talk to pitcher Joseph Menefee, Jackson Nicklaus hit a grand slam over the right field fence to extend the Sooners lead to 12-3 in the top of the fourth. It came just two innings after Oklahoma scored seven runs to chase Texas A&M starter Nathan Dettmer out of the game after 1.2 innings.

It’s just another part of an offensive outburst for Oklahoma, led by six combined RBI from Jimmy Crooks and Tanner Tredaway. Skip Johnson’s group is in good position early on in the game — the first of the College World Series in Omaha.

Skip Johnson assesses Jake Bennett, Oklahoma’s fast start vs. Texas A&M

Oklahoma wasted no time building an early lead against Texas A&M, jumping out to an 8-0 advantage thanks to a seven-run second inning. Sooners coach Skip Johnson sure seemed impressed — but he remained focused on the task at hand.

During an in-game interview with ESPN’s Dani Wexelman in the third inning, Johnson said he hopes his team can keep that energy going as the game goes on against a Texas A&M team that brings a 42-18 record into the College World Series.

“Just to maintain the at-bats,” Johnson said. “Really competitive at-bats, staying in the strike zone, putting the ball in play and just beating the infielders.”

Johnson also discussed what he wants to see from Jake Bennett with such a comfortable lead, which tightened up in the bottom of the second when Texas A&M outfielder Jordan Thompson hit a three-run home run to make it an 8-3 Oklahoma lead. Still, Johnson wants Bennett to stay the course and focus on making the right pitches — and not things out of his control.

“Just keep being himself,” Johnson said. “This is not something [about] being a superhero. Just keep throwing the ball at the target. That’s the only thing you can control.”