For a second consecutive series, Tennessee baseball dropped the finale, losing to Oklahoma 12-9.
The Sooners (32-20, 14-16 SEC) rebounded on Saturday and spoiled the chance for the Vols (37-19, 15-15 SEC) to sweep the final weekend series of the regular season.
Oklahoma jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first frame, and Tennessee never regained the lead, although the Vols brought it within two runs multiple times late in the game.
Lachance longballs
Oklahoma catcher Deiten Lachance had a career performance, hitting three solo home runs and a triple. He got the scoring started with a home run to center field in the first inning. Then, in the second, the Sooners’ junior led off the inning with a triple and came home to score on a Trey Gambill double.
Lachance hit his second longball of the day and third of the series in the bottom of the fifth to extend Oklahoma’s lead. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, he went yard again to give the Sooners an 11-8 lead. Lachance finished his day at 4 for 5 with 15 total bases.
Miscues and walks haunt Vols early
The Sooners jumped on the Vols’ starter Chandler Day early for six runs in the bottom of the first. However, only one of those runs was earned, as Ariel Antigua and Henry Ford both made costly throwing errors in the infield. But Day also struggled, giving up four walks and only lasting 0.2 innings before he was pulled for Brady Frederick. Day threw just 12 strikes on 34 pitches.
Frederick gave up two earned runs in relief of Day, allowing a wild pitch and a hit batsman while on the mound. He, too, lasted just 0.2 innings. In total, the Vols needed four pitchers just to make it through the first three innings.
Chapman nearly brings Tennessee back
Reese Chapman helped the Vols stay in it with a stellar day at the plate. The senior went 4-for-5 with three singles and a triple. With the bases loaded and two outs, Chapman brought home two runners with a single to right field, helping the Vols close the gap to 10-8.
The Vols’ bullpen also settled in after a rocky first two innings, but Chapman and the rest of the Tennessee bats couldn’t out-hit Lachance and the Sooners, who never relinquished the lead.
With the loss, Tennessee falls out of contention for a single bye in the SEC Tournament, so the Vols will play again on Tuesday, May 19, in Hoover, Alabama.
