How it Happened: Oklahoma finds late life, downs Tennessee 5-1 in extras
ARLINGTON, TX — John Spikerman’s RBI double in the top of the 10th inning sparked the four-run rally and was the key difference as Oklahoma surged past Tennessee, 5-1 in 10 innings.
The game was knotted at one run apiece at the end of nine. Tennessee’s score came on a solo home run off the bat of Dylan Dreiling back in the fourth inning while the Sooners run was from an RBI single from Roco Garza-Gongora in the fourth inning as well. Spikerman’s double broke the tied tally while Easton Carmichael and Roco Garza-Gongora provided some additional insurance.
Aaron Combs (0-1) takes home the loss after walking two men on base in the 10th inning. Combs was pretty sharp overall for his 2.1 inning of work, but allowed the three runs in total off one hit – three walks and four strikeouts. Ryan Lambert (1-0) gets the win as he finished the game for Oklahoma after coming in with one out in the ninth.
Drew Beam tossed 5.2 innings in the start, allowing just one run over seven hits with two strikeouts along the way. Oklahoma starter Brendan Girton was extremely sharp in four innings, allowing one run over three hits while striking out nine batters in the process.
Tennessee will be back in action to conclude the Shriners Children’s College Showdown on Sunday against Baylor at 7:30 pm eastern time. The Sooners meanwhile will have a quick turnaround with Oregon Sunday morning at 10:30 local time.
Here’s how it all went down for a Tennessee loss in extra innings.
Scoring Plays
Top 4th: Roco Garza-Gongora singled up the middle, plating Easton Carmichael from second base. Oklahoma 1-0
Rocco gettin' us rollin' 💥
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) February 18, 2024
T4 | OU 1, UT 0 @Rocco_Garza_G // #CHAOUS pic.twitter.com/lCV50bvjMT
Bottom 4th: Dylan Dreiling crushed a leadoff ball 430 ft over the right field wall. Tied 1-1
Lord have mercy, that poor baseball…
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 18, 2024
🖥️ https://t.co/K9txqjSJM9#GBO // #OTH // #BeatOU pic.twitter.com/V4uW6aKYSm
Top 10th: John Spikerman doubles in Jaxon Willits on a drive to centerfield. Oklahoma 2-1
Top 10
- 1
'Fire Kelly' chants at LSU
Death Valley disapproval of Brian Kelly
- 2
SEC title game scenarios
The path to the championship game is clear
- 3New
Chipper Jones
Braves legend fiercely defends SEC
- 4
Drinkwitz warns MSU
Mizzou coach sounded off
- 5Hot
Neyland does Gator Chomp
Vols fans celebrate Florida win
SPIKE 🔥 #SOONERS LEAD pic.twitter.com/OGxPoFCI2F
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) February 18, 2024
Top 10th: Easton Carmichael singles to right field, scoring John Spikerman from third base. Oklahoma 3-1
Top 10th: Roco Garza-Gongora singles in two runs on a drive to right field. Oklahoma 5-1
The Final Stats
Postgame Video
Weekend Schedule for Tennessee Baseball
Friday: Tennessee 6, Texas Tech 2 | Final Stats | How it Happened | Four Takes | Tony Vitello Transcript
Saturday: Oklahoma 5, Tennessee 1 | Final Stats
Sunday (7:30pm ET) vs. Baylor | Watch: FloBaseball | Listen: UTsports.com | Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Projected Weekend Starting Rotation
Friday – No. 9 Tennessee vs. No. 21 Texas Tech | RHP AJ Russell vs. RHP Kyle Robinson
Saturday – No. 9 Tennessee vs. Oklahoma | RHP Drew Beam vs. RHP Brendan Girton
Sunday – No. 9 Tennessee vs. Baylor | LHP Zander Sechrist vs. TBA
Vols in the Preseason Polls
NCBWA – No. 5
USA Today Coaches Poll – No. 8
Baseball America – No. 8
D1 Baseball – No. 9
Perfect Game – No. 11
*The Vols were picked to finish second in the SEC East in 2024, voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches.
