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.”

Oklahoma erupts for seven-run second inning to take commanding lead vs. Texas A&M

The Sooners knocked Aggies starter Nathan Dettmer out of the game in the second inning thanks to a seven-run outburst, capped by a three-run home run from Jimmy Crooks to take a commanding 8-0 lead over the Aggies. It’s the first game of the CWS after both teams advanced out of their respective Super Regionals.

Dettmer was on the hook for seven of the eight Oklahoma runs in the first two innings since he left the game with two runners on. Texas A&M got a few of those runs back, though, thanks to a three-run home run from Jordan Thompson in the bottom of the inning.

Oklahoma brings a 42-22 overall record into the game, including a 15-9 record in Big 12 action. The Sooners defeated Virginia Tech in the Blacksburg Super Regional to make it to the CWS for the first time since 2010.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, is 42-18 overall and went 19-11 in SEC play. The Aggies are coming off back-to-back victories over Louisville in the College Station Super Regional to punch their ticket to Omaha.