Sooners Hold On, Down Aggies 13-8 In First MCWS Game

The red-hot Sooners brought out the bats early and often in their Men’s College World Series opener.

Oklahoma scored the game’s first eight runs, including seven in the second inning alone, but they needed several more to defeat No. 5 Texas A&M Friday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

Some of the Sooners’ (43-12) insurance runs came off the bat of second baseman Jackson Nicklaus. Nicklaus clubbed a grand slam in the fourth inning to put OU ahead 12-3 and in the lead for good.

Oklahoma pitcher Jake Bennett battled through a bumpy second and fourth innings to finish with six innings of work, allowing four earned runs on five hits. He faced 23 batters, struck out three and didn't walk anybody.

Trevin Michael stepped in relief of David Sandlin, who struggled to record just one out in the seventh inning. Michael was stellar in his 2.2 innings of shutout baseball.

Oklahoma advances to the winner's bracket where it will face the winner of Notre Dame and No. 9 Texas. First pitch will be 6 p.m. Sunday.

Texas A&M, who moves into the loser's bracket, dropped to 41-19 on the season.