Freshman right‑hander Cord Rager turned heads in the opening round of the Men’s College World Series, delivering a seven‑inning outing that featured three hits allowed, no walks and a career‑high eight strikeouts.
The effort underpinned a 9‑0 victory over Alabama, a game that also saw catcher Deiten Lachance battle a left‑ankle injury while launching a 409‑foot homer in the sixth inning.
A Breakout Performance
Oklahoma’s offense clicked from the outset, with the first eight batters in the lineup all registering hits and the team posting a ten‑run average across the postseason.
Rager’s recent stretch includes 13 consecutive scoreless innings over his last two starts, a stretch that has helped the Sooners limit earned runs to just three in 19 postseason frames.
Looking Ahead
The Sooners are scheduled to face the winner of the Georgia‑Texas matchup at 6 p.m. Monday, a contest that will be broadcast live on ESPN as they chase a championship.
With a pitching staff that has been dominant and a lineup that clicks from the top, the team is emerging as a serious contender for the title.