Oklahoma
Oklahoma ‘Getting Gritty’ After SEC Tournament Loss
NORMAN — Oklahoma didn’t shy away from the disappointment of losing to Georgia in the opening game of the SEC Tournament.
The Sooners have been open about using that as motivation in the Norman Regional.
The essons continue to be apparent, as third-seeded Oklahoma beat Kansas 9-0 in five innings Saturday at Love’s Field.
The Sooners have won their two games so far in the regional by a combined 20-0 while needed the minimum of eight at-bats.
“Georgia, did not feel good about that loss,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “But it really inspired us to be better and change.
“So coming back to Norman, really, really working hard on the field. Really holding players kind of accountable, saying, ‘Do it again, do it again.’ They’re holding each other accountable, saying, ‘Do it again.’ And the goal here is to start peaking, and I believe this is the best run show that I’ve seen from this team thus far. So I think we are going in that direction.”
The Sooners will look to continue their run when they take on Binghamton, Kansas or Michigan at 2 p.m. Sunday at Love’s Field. Oklahoma needs to win one game in potentially two chances to advance to the Super Regionals.
Against Georgia, Oklahoma scored four first-inning runs and made it 5-0 on Kai Minor‘s homer to lead off the second.
But the rest of the way, the Sooners managed just two hits.
While Gasso was plenty happy with the three second-inning runs Saturday that came on home runs by Kasidi Pickering and Isabela Emerling, she was happier about the way the six-run fourth unfolded.
“I love home runs. Everybody loves home runs, but I love watching our team run the bases,” Gasso said. “It’s fun to put them in motion sometimes. It was good heads-up base running. We were that all day long. We can do it all kinds of ways, as long as we swing hard.”
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The Sooners produced the runs without the benefit of a homer, getting two doubles two singles, and four walks to help push the runs across and move the game into run-rule territory.
“I think taking that loss and kind of using it as, not like dwelling on it, but just learning how to just take it and what we could do better,” Miali Guachino said when asked about the biggest change spurred by the SEC Tournament loss. “I think we’re just kind of using it as fuel, and kind of just getting gritty, I think that’s the best word. Like, at practice and everything. I think we’re just starting to get gritty now.”
Oklahoma doesn’t figure to forget the loss to the Bulldogs anytime soon.
“Just being tougher, being more competitive, and not being denied again,” Emerling said. “Because we don’t want to feel like that again.”
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OKLAHOMA CITY — A lightning delay at 8:48 p.m. in the seventh inning paused play between Oklahoma and Tennessee. Down 5-3 with one out and a runner on first, OU was trying to rally after a third inning of blunders led to an early lead transforming into a deficit.
An hour later, the game was suspended for the evening due to weather.
Play will resume tomorrow at 1 p.m. The third game will beging 45 minutes after the second game reaches its conclusion.
Xander Mercurius got his first start of the season in place of his brother LJ Merurius. After retiring the first six batters he faced, his play and confidence fell off in the fourth surrendering four runs highlighted by and RBI-triple, Mercurius finished with six strikeouts, giving up five runs off six hits.
Camden Johnson got Bricktown rocking with a two-run home run out of deep center field. The first inning was kind to the Sooners with Deiten LaChance and Jaxon Willits with back-to-back singles — the latter advancing LaChance to third.
Trey Gambill scored LaChance with a sacrifice grounder to put OU up 3-0 at the end of the first.
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After retiring the next three batters he faced, Mercurius had a tough start to the third inning.
A routine ground-out turned into a single when Mercurius stopped running towards first after LaChance secured the ball, but with no one to throw to. The mental error led to no outs and a man on first to start the third.
An RBI-triple by Manny Marin scored the Volunteers their first run. Tennessee wasn’t done.
Jay Abernathy earned an RBI with a single into left field. A fly-out and a strikeout followed — Mercurius’ gaffe at first base fresh in everyone’s mind. With Oklahoma leading 3-2, Trent Grindlinger singled into right field to score two runners. After the dust settled, OU entered the bottom of the third down 4-3.
Johnson had a tough fifth inning at third base.
A rocket from Blake Grimmer just eluded Johnson’s glove for a single. Two pitches later, Henry Ford hit a laser directly to Johnson, who was unable to snag the ball in the dirt — resulting in an error and run scored for the Volunteers.
At 5-3, Skip Johnson made the change at the mound, bringing in Nate Smithburg.
Oklahoma let a great chance slip away with bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. Kyle Branch grounded out to end the inning, leaving three on and the Sooners still down 5-3.
OU and Tennessee entered into a lightning delay shortly after and will resume play tomorrow, Saturday, at 1 p.m.
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The 2026 Oklahoma high school boys tennis state championships are being played Friday and Saturday at Oklahoma City Tennis Center.
Here are the results:
Order book on Oklahoma HS basketball at ‘The Big House’
Oklahoma high school boys tennis scoreboard
At Oklahoma City Tennis Center
Class 6A Boys
NO. 1 SINGLES
First Round
Walker Nelson, Bixby, def. Jackson Abner, Piedmont, 6-0, 6-0
Keon Azadi, Norman, def. Finley Stone, Muskogee, 6-1, 6-2
Adolfo Andrade, Tulsa Union, def. Jett Sewell, Deer Creek, 6-0, 6-0
Krishna Bhadriraju, Jenks, def. Karson Vega, Mustang, 6-0, 6-1
Eli Lemley, Edmond Memorial, def. Pierce Durbin, Broken Arrow, 6-0, 6-0
Brandon Ionescu, Norman North, def. Ben Colburn, Edmond North, 6-3, 6-1
Lincoln Smith, Putnam City, def. Nick Henry, Owasso, 6-4, 6-2
TJ Shanahan, Bishop McGuinness, def. Jonathan Dunn, Edmond Santa Fe, 6-1, 6-0
NO. 2 SINGLES
First Round
Gavin Davis, Edmond Memorial, def. Kyle Tran, Broken Arrow, 6-1, 6-0
Jose Mendoza, Union, def. Haden Buie, Muskogee, 6-0, 6-2
Tyson Stuart, Owasso, def. Patrick Hopper, Norman, 6-1, 6-2
Braley Griffith, Bishop McGuinness, def. Sam Fair, Mustang, 6-2, 6-4
Tej Beniwal, Jenks, def. Max menne, Stillwater, 6-0, 6-0
Josh Booze, Norman North, def. Nathan Aller, Piedmont, 6-2, 6-4
Haaris Sattar, Deer Creek, def. Aaron Warmoth, Edmond Santa Fe, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Carter Henson, Bixby, def. Javen Sanner, Edmond North, 6-3, 6-3
NO. 1 DOUBLES
First Round
Bailey-S. Morrison, Edmond Memorial, def. Clink-Harrison, Jenks, 6-2, 6-3
Harkins-Thomas, Edmond North, def. Anderson-Harris, Mustang, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Amaya-Loeffler, Bishop McGuinness, def. Gonzalez-Lisle, Union, 6-2, 6-2
Torrence-Whitney, Bixby, def. Crawford-Lopez, Moore, 6-1, -2
Haymore-Yong, Edmond Santa Fe, def. Kistler-Szendrei, Norman, 6-3, 6-4
Dosev-McKee, Stillwater, def. Payne-Warren, Owasso, 6-3, 6-3
Webster-Mathis, Choctaw, def. Goncharov-Kim, Norman North, 4-6, 6-4, 6-5
Corbin-Palmer, Yukon, def. Colmenero-Covington, Bartlesville, 6-1, 6-3
NO. 2 DOUBLES
First Round
Bowling-D. Morrison, Edmond Memorial, def. Barnes-Lippe, Yukon, 6-1, 6-0
Darby-Nguyen, Union, def. Coleman-Gary, Owasso, 6-1, 6-3
Remy-Stevenson, Bixby, def. O’Neill-Phillips, Ponca City, 6-3, 6-2
Henness-Hua, Broken Arrow, def. Bruce-Li, Stillwater, 6-1, 6-1
V. Beniwal-Schissel, Jenks, def. Hall-Jackson, Norman North, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Majors-Phan, Edmond North, def. Hollenbeck-Hollenbeck, Choctaw, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4
Chiang-Cumpton, Edmond Santa Fe, def. Burchett-Proctor, Bartlesville, 6-2, 6-1
Dell-Osso-J. Griffith, Bishop McGuinness, def. Calderwood-Hennessee, Westmoore, 6-0, 6-1
Class 5A Boys
NO. 1 SINGLES
First Round
Dutch Prather, Tulsa Bishop Kelley, def. Carter Schollenbarger, Shawnee, 6-0, 6-0
Tai Nguyen, Pryor, def. Caleb Whaley, McAlester, 6-0, 6-0
Ethan Luong, Carl Albert, def. Jan Kosik, Grove, 6-0, 6-0
Hayden Shriner, Casady, def. Gaius Sanchez, Durant, 6-2, 6-0
JP Dillon, Crossings Christian, def. Luke Wickham, Claremore, 6-0, 6-0
River Tate, Duncan, def. Rawley Winsett, Altus, 6-0, 6-0
Christian Huntley, Metro Christian, def. Roshan Kunapuli, Tulsa BTW, 6-1, 6-2
Benjamin Kendrick, Cascia Hall, def. Eli Mooney, Classen, 6-0, 6-1
NO. 2 SINGLES
First Round
Ashton Haynes, Metro Christian, def. Jesse Gonzales, Midwest City, 6-0, 6-0
Grant Alexander, Grove, def. William Downey, Lawton, 6-1, 6-3
Liam Allen, Bishop Kelley, def. Will Cooper, McAlester, 6-0, 6-0
Gavin Cobble, Duncan, def. Deacon Fannin, Pryor, 6-3, 6-2
Joel Lauw, Crossings Christian, def. Brandon Rogers, Carl Albert, 6-4, 6-2
Caleb Strickland, Altus, def. Mackinle Sisovsky, Claremore, 6-4, 6-3
Aryan Singh, Casady, def. Samuel Frederick, Lawton MacArthur, 6-0, 6-0
Gavin Warren, Cascia Hall, def. Truman White, Tulsa BTW, 6-1, 6-0
NO. 1 DOUBLES
First Round
G. Dillon-Shapard, Crossings Christian, def. Blackbird-Havens, Tahlequah, 6-0, 6-1
Koehn-Ollison, Classen, def. Cole-Comstock, Shawnee, 6-1, 6-4
Neal-T. Prather, Bishop Kelley, def. Johnstone-Landis, Casady, 6-4, 6-0
Hardy-McCann, Metro Christian, def. Hall-Hester, McAlester, 6-1, 6-0
Reineke-Zeiders, Heritage Hall, def. Schartz-Karleskint, Grove, 6-1, 6-4
Mayer-Olmstead, Guthrie, def. Rodgers-Stallings, Cascia Hall, 6-1, 6-4
Crimmins-Davis, Duncan, def. Hays-Martin, Pryor, 6-2, 6-0
Reese-Sparks, Carl Albert, def. Arnold-Miller, Durant, 6-1, 6-0
NO. 2 DOUBLES
First Round
Baker-Hays, Crossings Christian, def. Bowman-Jones, Classen, 6-1, 6-1
Harms-Jones, Altus, def. Hurst-Joice, Pryor, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
Brooks-DeWitt, Bishop Kelley, def. Edberg-Shelton, Guthrie, 6-3, 6-2
Blasdel-Smith, Heritage Hall, def. Baker-Brinkley, Tahlequah, 6-1, 6-2
Gilliam-Oudit, Carl Albert, def. Garcia-Preston, Durant, 6-1, 6-0
Hood-McCoy, Cascia Hall, def. Farr-Mitchell, Tulsa BTW, 6-4, 6-3
Mois-Pitale, Casady, def. Lander-Snedegar, Metro Christian, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4)
Churchman-Mitchell, Duncan, Newsom-Timmons, Shawnee, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Class 4A Boys
NO. 1 SINGLES
First Round
Max Beard, Regent Prep, def. Jacob Holloway, Byng, 6-0, 6-0
Quinn Brewer, Elk City, def. Waylon Smith, Ardmore, 6-2, 6-4
Quinn Steenson, Riverfield, def. Jayden Ashton, Wagoner, 6-0, 6-2
Ian Ward, Harding Charter, def. Gus Byrd, Ada, 6-1, 6-1
Henry Corbin, The Academy, def. Truman Adams, Oklahoma Christian Aca., 6-0, 6-0
Cruz Palomino, Holland Hall, def. Landon Brown, Woodward, 6-0, 6-0
William Berry, Douglass, def. Ethan Ryder, Lincoln Christian, 6-0, 6-1
Trendon Ayers, Oklahoma Christian School, def. Jeff Webster, Henryetta, 6-0, 6-0
NO. 2 SINGLES
First Round
Joe Dvorak, Ardmore, def. CJ Trevino, Rejoice Christian, 6-0, 6-0
Cedar Thomas, Ada, def. Caleb Darr, Mount St. Mary, 6-3, 6-1
Brayden Tyrrell, OCS, def. Andreas Markey, Harding Charter, 6-4, 6-2
Andy Robbins, The Academy, def. Carter Lillie, Oklahoma Bibble, 6-1, 6-0
Joel Ferguson, OCA, def. Cade Johnson, Regent Prep, 6-2, 6-0
Cole Patterson, Riverfield, def. Chase Jobe, Lincoln Christian, 6-3, 6-2
Brady Henry, Holland Hall, def. Kael Humphries, Wagoner, 6-1, 6-0
Kade Duncan, Elk City, def. Adam Hensley, Byng, 6-2, 7-5
NO. 1 DOUBLES
First Round
Harrison-Ware, Byng, def. Allen-Ward, Mount St. Mary, 6-0, 6-1
Lemonds-Moore, Wagoner, def. Bevans-Smith, Ardmore, 6-3, 6-3
Nelson-Wagner, Lincoln Christian, def. Schneidau-Watson, Regent Prep, 6-3, 6-1
Brewer-Coslow, Elk City, def. Hobbs-Holbrook, OCS, 6-3, 6-1
Aaronson-Vaidya, Holland Hall, def. Chesher-Martin, Riverfield, 6-2, 6-2
Corbin-Morris, The Academy, def. Kommer-Mullins, Tecumseh, 6-2, 6-0
Green-Maness, Pauls Valley, def. Marguier-Matlock, Henryetta, 7-5, 6-3
Jacobs-Moon, Ada, def. Redman-Smith, OCA, 6-1, 6-0
NO. 2 DOUBLES
First Round
Bristow-Herman, Holland Hall, def. Mason-McCullough, Tecumseh, 6-1, 6-0
Corbin-Gund, Riverfield, def. Paine-Lopez, Victory Christian, 6-3, 6-2
Gridley-Morris, The Academy, def. Braun-Kolker, Mount St. Mary, 6-2, 6-2
Anderson-Cody, Ada, def. Ferguson-Milner, OCA, 6-4, 6-0
Johnston-Thompson, Lincoln Christian, def. Burnett-Duncan, OCS, 6-2, 7-5
Good-Seger, Wagoner, def. Clayton-Hill, Henryetta, 6-1, 6-4
Leslie-Mornhinweg, Byng, def. Luna-Walter, Elk City, 6-4, 7-5
Fields-Odom, Ardmore, def. Alvarado-Hicks, Pauls Valley, 6-1, 6-1
Oklahoma filed a lawsuit against Roblox on Thursday, becoming the latest state to take legal action against the popular gaming platform over child safety concerns.
“Roblox marketed itself as a safe place for children but turned a blind eye as predators targeted and exploited minors on its platform,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a press release on Thursday.
In the 51-page lawsuit filed in Cleveland County District Court, Drummond claims that Roblox failed to implement basic safety controls, prioritizing user growth over child safety, and that the platform “facilitated the systemic sexual exploitation and abuse of children across Oklahoma and elsewhere in the United States.”
The platform’s design, the suit alleges, prevents parents from being aware of their child’s activity, resulting in exposure to “dangerous adults” and to encounters involving violence and sexual content.
In September, according to the lawsuit, an Oklahoma mother sued Roblox after her then-12-year-old daughter was coerced into sending explicit photos and videos to a man in his forties posing as a teenager on the platform.
Over the last year, a swath of lawsuits have sprung up across the country alleging an online environment within Roblox that facilitates child exploitation.
A CBS News investigation last year found at least a dozen instances of hate speech on Roblox targeting minority groups and dozens of swastikas in one game where users were able to bypass safety moderations.
Oklahoma’s suit alleges violations under the state’s Consumer Protection Act, claiming that Roblox made misrepresentations to consumers by not disclosing “the true nature of the risks of harm posed to children.” Oklahoma is seeking civil penalties for each violation of the act and permanent injunctions prohibiting deceptive practices and requiring the implementation of “meaningful and lasting” safeguards.
The platform hosts over 150 million active daily users, according to Roblox, and as many as two-thirds of U.S. children between 9 and 12 years old have accounts, Oklahoma’s lawsuit claims.
Roblox says on its website that the company applies “rigorous build-in protections and tools” and leverages partnerships with child safety experts. It announced last month that it will launch expanded parental controls for users under 16 in June.
In a statement to CBS News, Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman said the company has built a multilayered safety system for user protection that deploys AI-powered detection, human moderation and filters designed to prevent the exchange of personal information.
“We share Attorney General Drummond’s commitment to child online safety,” Kaufman said. “With that said, we are disappointed that he has filed a lawsuit that both fundamentally misrepresents how Roblox works and fails to take into account the extensive, industry-leading proactive measures the company is taking to set a new standard in online safety.”
The company said it is the first online gaming platform to require age checks for all users accessing chat features, and noted that it does not allow the exchange of images or videos in chats.
Kaufman said Roblox works closely with law enforcement when it identifies violations and that “while no system can be perfect,” the company is constantly strengthening user protections. “We look forward to working constructively with Attorney General Drummond to help keep kids safe online,” he said.
At least nine states including Oklahoma have sued Roblox and at least three others have reached settlements with the platform.
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