Sooners Force Rubber Match as Alabama falls 6-5

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 12 Alabama drops game two versus No. 9 Oklahoma 6-5. Series decider set for 1 p.m. CT Sunday afternoon.

Alabama reliever Hagan Banks was credited with the loss, Oklahoma's Reid Hensley was tabbed with the win, and Dylan Crooks earned the save.

The Oklahoma offense got hot early, a one-out Trey Gambill single followed by an errant throw on a pickoff attempt put a runner in scoring position for the Sooners. Oklahoma catcher Easton Carmichael worked a walk to put two on for the Sooners. After a Jaxon Willits flyout, Oklahoma first baseman Dayton Tockey ripped a single through the middle of the infield to give OU a 1-0 lead in the first. Alabama starter Bobby Alcock induced a grounder to second base to end the frame.

The top of the Crimson Tide lineup couldn't respond in the bottom of the frame, going down in order.

Oklahoma extended their lead to 2-0 in the second with a leadoff Easton Carmichael home run, but couldn't plate any more runs in the frame.

Will Plattner began the home half of the second with a leadoff double, but Oklahoma starter Cade Crossland dug in to escape the inning unharmed.

The Sooners tacked one more in the third via a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead.

The Crimson Tide finally answered in the bottom of the third thanks to a Richie Bonomolo Jr. two-out solo shot that cut the Sooners' lead to 3-1.

Alcock found a groove in the fourth, facing the minimum to hang his first zero of the day.

Alabama continued to chip away at the Oklahoma lead in the bottom of the frame. A leadoff Kade Snell single and a two-out Jason Torres walk set up Garrett Staton with a big RBI chance. Staton came through, dropping a liner into left field, scoring Snell and chopping the Alabama deficit to just 3-2.

The Crimson Tide couldn't tack on any more runs in the fourth.

Both offenses fell quiet until the seventh inning, where Oklahoma broke the seal with a Jason Walk single up the middle to score Dawson Willis and extend their advantage to 4-2.

Alabama responded with the first multi-run inning of the afternoon, evening up the game at four apiece thanks to a Bonomolo Jr. bunt and a Kade Snell RBI groundout.

A scoreless eighth inning sent the game to a decisive ninth inning.

As Alabama did Friday night, the Sooners rallied late Saturday afternoon. OU's Gambil knocked an RBI sac fly to take the lead, 5-4. The following at-bat, Easton Carmichael single scored another Sooners run to add insurance as Oklahoma nabbed a 6-4 lead. Oklahoma's Jason Walk was thrown out at home to end the top of the ninth.

The Crimson Tide worked the bases-loaded via a pair of walks from Coleman Mizell and Lebron and a single from Bryce Fowler. A Kade Snell RBI groundout moved the tying run up 90 feet. Down to the last out, Will Plattner worked a 3-2 count before striking out looking to end the game.

Alabama looks to take the series win tomorrow in a decisive Sunday matchup.

For more Alabama Baseball, Basketball, and Football content from Simon Besnoy, follow him on Twitter at @SimonBesnoy and stay tuned to Tide1009.com for daily news.