OU Comeback Falls Short in Opener vs. Alabama

Thursday, April 2

6:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

20-9, 0

Alabama

24-7, 0

Alabama

Oklahoma

OU Comeback Falls Short in Opener vs. Alabama

April 02, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Final Stats

NORMAN — No. 11 Oklahoma dropped game one of the series to No. 16 Alabama Thursday night in Norman by a final of 10-7.

The Sooners (20-9, 4-6 SEC) made a comeback attempt, scoring the game's final six runs, but a 10-1 start through two innings proved enough for the Crimson Tide (24-7, 7-3).

Alabama raced out to a 2-0 lead with a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game and an RBI single later in the first. OU (20-9, 4-6) answered with an RBI single from Jaxon Willits in the home half of the first.

The Crimson Tide poured in eight runs in the second on three home runs and a single. The eight runs tied a season high surrendered in an inning by OU pitching.

Oklahoma plated three in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of home runs. Nolan Stevens hit his third of the season on a solo shot before a two-run blast from Trey Gambill for his fifth of the year.

A scoreless three innings ensued from the sixth through eighth with the Sooners threatening with a pair on base in the sixth and one on in the seventh. The Sooners broke through in the ninth with three runs on three hits. Alec Blair hit a leadoff home run, his second of the season, before a two-run triple from Camden Johnson brought OU within three. The Sooners had the tying run on deck but a strikeout ended the rally.

OU starting pitcher LJ Mercurius took his third loss of the season, going 1.1 innings and surrendering seven runs on five hits with one walk. It was the first outing of his eight that he did not record a strikeout.

Reliever Xander Mercurius went a season-long six innings and had a career-high seven strikeouts.

Pitchers of Record

Win: Tyler Fay (6-2)
Loss: LJ Mercurius (5-3)
Save: Sam Mitchell (1)

Statistical Snapshot

Trey Gambill | 3-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Camden Johnson | 2-for-5, 1 3B, 2 RBI
Jaxon Willits | 2-for-4, 1 RBI
Nolan Stevens | 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Alec Blair | 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Notes

OU dropped to 20-9 and 4-6 in SEC play. The Sooners moved to 13-4 at home.
Trey Gambill registered his second three-hit game of the season and seventh multi-hit performance.
Camden Johnson recorded his ninth multi-hit game, a team best.
OU tied a season high with three home runs, the third time the team has hit three in a game this season.
Trey Gambill hit his fifth home run of the year, Nolan Stevens hit his third and Alec Blair registered his second.
Xander Mercurius had career highs of 6.0 innings pitched and seven strikeouts.

Up Next

The teams meet for the second game of the series on Friday at 1 p.m. CT before a 2 p.m. finale on Saturday. The series can be seen on SECN+ and heard on the radio via The REF 99.3 FM/1400 AM.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma baseball, follow the Sooners on X and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.