Kentucky takes Game 2, series against Oklahoma

The Oklahoma baseball team picked the wrong part of the regular season in which to struggle.

In the penultimate weekend of the regular season, the No. 16 Sooners have now dropped both of their first two games against Kentucky, falling 8-5, on Saturday. The Wildcats clinched the set with the win and the Oklahoma, which plays No. 1 Texas next week, seems unlikely to host a regional in the NCAA Tournament without taking that series against the Longhorns or winning the SEC Tournament.

Kentucky jumped on OU quickly, scoring four runs in the first inning another in the second to open a 5-1 lead. Oklahoma starter Cade Crossland walked two batters, hit another and gave up sacrifice fly, a two-run triple and an RBI single as the Wildcats sent eight batters to the plate in the opening frame.

Crossland had been staked to a 2-0 lead before he even took the mound after Easton Carmichael knocked in Jason Walk with an RBI single and Jaxon Willits followed with an RBI groundout. But the Sooners right-hander ultimately worked just three innings, giving up those five runs on three eights, four walks and and two hit batters.

Kentucky tacked on three more runs to put the game away in the fifth inning, though Oklahoma brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth. Scott Mudler hit a two-out, two-run double in the inning an inning after he popped a solo home run. The double put him at second base and Mason Hamlin at third. But Dawson Willis lined out to center field ending things.

The Sooners will almost certainly drop in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll rankings when the poll is released Monday. An upset over the Longhorns could keep Norman Regional hopes alive, though OU will likely earn a No. 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Sunday’s finale against Kentucky is scheduled for noon Sunday.