HOOVER, Ala. — Vanderbilt baseball will start off the SEC tournament by facing Oklahoma in the quarterfinals.

The Commodores (39-16) received a double bye as the No. 4 seed under the new tournament format, which includes all 16 teams and is single elimination. They will face the No. 12 seed Sooners (34-19) with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

Vanderbilt has won its SEC tournament opener in five consecutive seasons. It is near-certain to be an NCAA tournament national seed, with the No. 1 RPI and No. 2 strength of schedule, but it can bolster its résumé even further with a run in Hoover.

The Commodores won four of their last five series to finish off the regular season. They dropped two of three to Oklahoma in mid-April, a series they credited with turning around their offensive performance.

More: Watch Vanderbilt baseball vs Oklahoma with Fubo (free trial)

Vanderbilt baseball vs Oklahoma in SEC tournament quarterfinals: Score updates

What channel is Vanderbilt baseball vs Oklahoma?

Vanderbilt baseball vs. Oklahoma will be televised on SEC Network. Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

SAWYER HAWKS How Sawyer Hawks of Vanderbilt baseball honors late mother’s memory

Vanderbilt baseball vs Oklahoma: Start time

All times Central

Thursday, May 22: approximately 6:30 p.m. CT

WALK-UP SONGS Vanderbilt baseball walk-up songs 2025 include Kendrick Lamar, Black-Eyed Peas

Vanderbilt baseball injury updates 

Hudson Barton is out, according to the SEC availability report. He has not pitched since March.

Jonathan Vastine, who suffered an ankle injury during the second game of the Kentucky series but played through it, was not on the injury report.

Who is pitching for Vanderbilt baseball vs Oklahoma?

LHP JD Thompson (4-5, 4.21 ERA) vs. TBD

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, @aria_gerson.

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A month ago, it was fair to turn and look away from Oklahoma State baseball.

The Cowboys looked nothing like themselves. Losses piled up. The offense struggled. The pitching was worse.

Sitting below .500, the belief was that OSU would miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time under coach Josh Holliday.

My, how things can change.

There are few teams hotter than the Pokes entering conference tournament week. They’re coming off a three-game sweep of Arizona State. They’ve won 9 of 10 games.

OSU is suddenly back in the NCAA Tournament picture, too.

The Cowboys enter the Big 12 Tournament at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday as the No. 7 seed. They’ll face Baylor at 4 p.m. on ESPNU.

Here is what to know about OSU entering the postseason:

More: Oklahoma State baseball pitching coach Rob Walton announces retirement after 2025 season

Oklahoma State baseball resume

• Record: 27-22 (15-12 Big 12, 7th)
• RPI: 45th (through May 18 games)
• Projected seed: USA TODAY: No. 3 seed in Chapel Hill Regional (last four in); D1Baseball: No. 3 seed in Corvallis Regional
• Notable: The Cowboys’ mid-season struggles and cancellation of several Big 12 games can be overlooked in part to a tough schedule. OSU’s strength of schedule ranks No. 11 in the country, according to D1Baseball.com’s RPI.

More: Meet The Oklahoman sports team reporting on OU and OSU athletics

OSU baseball Big 12 Tournament preview

Never count out the Cowboys in this tournament.

The format is different — an increase to 12 teams and a change to single elimination — but the talent is just the same under Holliday.

The Cowboys get a boost by opening with Baylor, a team they took two of three from and nearly swept on the road less than two weeks ago.

But this is no easy field. Eight teams are ranked in the top 50 RPI and all 12 are in the top 90.

Should the Cowboys win, they face No. 2-seeded Kansas. The Jayhawks swept OSU in late March, signaling the downturn of OSU’s season. Another win could mean a date with No. 3 TCU.

Though that appears daunting, the Cowboys have won this tournament four times, including last season.

More: Big 12 baseball final regular-season power rankings and look ahead to NCAA regionals

Why Oklahoma State baseball can make a run in NCAA Tournament

First, the Cowboys have to get in.

Though projections are favorable — Baseball America and D1Baseball.com both have OSU in as of Tuesday — a win or two in Arlington will go a long way to make them feel safe.

But get in and the Cowboys face significantly less pressure than the past three seasons. There will be no home regional, which OSU has lost each year at O’Brate Stadium since 2022.

Getting away from Stillwater could be a positive.

Plus, it helps that OSU has a bona fide ace in left-hander Harrison Bodendorf, who leads the league with 10 wins and is tied for second with a 2.43 ERA.

Mario Pesca and Hunter Watkins have also become reliable starters in the rotation.

And don’t forget about the Cowboys’ offense that can overwhelm opponents.

Slugger Nolan Schubart is third in the conference with 17 home runs after a slow start. Colin Brueggemann is not far behind with 14. And Brayden Smith has become a lightning bolt for the Cowboys’ lineup.

OSU has outscored its opponents 80-27 over the last 10 games.

More: NCAA baseball tournament bracket predictions: National seed, super regional hosts

Why OSU baseball can’t make a run in NCAA Tournament

Even though getting away from O’Brate Stadium might make some OSU fans who remember the past all too well feel a little better, it shouldn’t.

OSU is 18-12 at home and 5-12 in true road games.

That’s far from ideal.

So, which bullpen will show up? The one that has been rock solid in the final month or the one that was a total disaster in March?

Legendary pitching coach Rob Walton has worked his magic turning the staff around before he enters retirement. But things can turn in an instant for any college pitcher.

And though the Cowboys can slug, there are issues with the lineup. Schubart and Brueggemann are prone to strikeouts. And facing a team with strong lefties can neutralize the duo.