Dores Fall in Norman

NORMAN, Okla. – Vanderbilt dropped the series opener at Oklahoma on Friday night, falling 9-4 to the Sooners at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

Four walks and a pair of extra-base hits led to a four-run first inning for the Sooners as the home team jumped out to an early lead.

Vanderbilt started off the top of the third with singles by Jayden Davis and Rustan Rigdon. With one out, Mac Rose singled to center to plate Davis and cut Oklahoma’s lead to 4-1.

The Commodores cut into the deficit again in the top of the sixth with the help of an error by the Sooners. Jonathan Vastine extended the inning with a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Colin Barczi then hit a ground ball to third baseman whose throw to first went into the Vanderbilt dugout, awarding Vastine home plate to make it 4-2.

Vandy starting pitcher JD Thompson rebounded after a tough first inning to hold the Sooners scoreless over the next four frames. Thompson exited in the sixth with six strikeouts, making way to Luke Guth.

A solo homer to right field off the bat of Jacob Humphrey pulled the Commodores to within a run in the top of the seventh.

The Sooners answered with a solo shot of their own to go up 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Two errors and a passed ball followed by a double plated two more runs to extend Oklahoma’s lead to four.

Oklahoma added on with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the eighth to go up 9-3.

Vanderbilt got a run back with a sac fly in the top of the ninth but fell 9-4, snapping a five-game win streak.

The Commodores look to even the series Saturday with first pitch at 4 p.m.