OU baseball drops series opener vs. Alabama, 10-7

No. 11 OU finds itself in yet another precarious spot heading into the weekend following a 10-7 series opening loss to No. 16 Alabama on Thursday night at Kimrey Family Stadium. 

Before Oklahoma even held its turn at the plate in the second inning; the damage had been done. Bryce Fowler led off the weekend with a solo home run. He homered again in his second plate appearance. Jason Torres and Justin Osterhouse added a pair of two-run blasts. 

In total, Alabama scored eight runs in the top of the second on five hits. A gut-punch after Jaxon Willits first-inning RBI single cut the Alabama lead to 2-1 after one. Oops. 

“Seems like our league games on the weekend, we’re always going to give up a lot of runs, walk a lot of people and give up a lot of hits. Xander (Mercurius) bailed us out again. I thought he threw really good. I thought we fought back really well, separating balls from strikes. Had a chance to bring the tying run up and it just didn’t happen today,” said Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson. 

Sooners starter LJ Mercurius struggled mightily in his third consecutive conference start.

Mercurius was tagged for three long balls in 1.1 innings Thursday night. He’s now allowed six home runs in Southeastern Conference play. The Crimson Tide hammered anything and everything that was close to the strike zone.

“It was everything. They covered cutters, change ups, fastballs … it didn’t matter. They hit every pitch. The cutter was a home run. The change up was a home run. Double off the wall was a fastball. Starts off the game and he throws a pretty quality pitch, pop up to left and it leaves the yard,” said Johnson. 

SOONERS OFFENSE QUIETED … BECOMING AN ISSUE

There is some good in what Oklahoma was able to put together offensively, scoring more than four runs in a game for the first time since March 15. But it was obviously too little too late after facing a nine-run deficit heading into the third inning. 

Alabama starter Tyler Fay retired 11 batters in a row before Nolan Stevens’ third home run of the season in the fifth. Trey Gambill’s fifth home run of the season closed the gap to six runs following a two-run shot a few batters later. 

Trailing 10-4 in the sixth, Alec Blair sent a towering shot into right field and it was brought back in by right fielder Brady Neal. A spectacular grab on one end and heartbreak for a Sooner comeback bid on the other as Neal’s web gem stole what would have been a three run blast.

“That changes the whole game right there. He didn’t even hit it good. Hit it off the end of the bat. If we do that, we have the momentum in the game,” said Johnson. 

LATE RALLY NOT ENOUGH

Just one of those nights. But the problem being offensive woes are now becoming all too familiar and punctuated by the porous starting pitching on the mound. 

Oklahoma rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Blair led off the inning with a solo home run to left. Camden Johnson two-run triple brought in two more runs, before Alabama finally closed the door and turned off the lights. 

In a game Oklahoma trailed 10-1 after two innings, it was almost shocking to see the tying run in the on-deck circle in the final inning. Maybe, just maybe there’s momentum somewhere in there heading into the final two games of the series. 

MERCURIUS – THE OTHER ONE– A BRIGHT SPOT

After he inherited a true hellscape in the second inning, freshman pitcher Xander Mercurius was excellent all things considered. After allowing Alabama’s fourth home run of the game in the second inning, Mercurius settled in. He delivered six solid innings, striking out seven.

It was the same kind of performance the youngest Mercurius brother delivered last weekend in Austin when LJ wasn’t able to get the job done in the series opener.

“It was huge. Probably one of the best outings we’ve had all year. Attacked the strike zone with some confidence and never gave in,” said Johnson.  

NEXT UP

Oklahoma (20-9, 4-6) and Alabama (24-7, 7-3) square off for game two of the series on Friday with first pitch set for 1 p.m.