Comeback Kings in Atlanta: Oklahoma Baseball Wins the Regional Final Thriller

ATLANTA, Ga.- Many thought the season was over in last night's game against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets were up 8-2 in the top of the fourth. But this Sooner team never gave up and ended up scoring 13 unanswered to force the if necessary game. 

The Sooners had their backs against the wall once again, except it was 7-3 going into the seventh inning. The bats were hot starting out. With the Sooners being the assigned home team, they scored three runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-run shot by Lachance and an RBI single from Harris. 

Catalano made the start for Oklahoma, but lasted for just three innings. The Yellow Jackets responded by scoring seven unanswered starting with a two-run homer by Burress when it was down to two outs in the top of the third. 

Bsck-to-back rockets came from Georgia Tech's Parker Brosius and Caleb Daniel in the top of the fifth to give the Jackets the lead. Then in the top of the sixth, the Sooners struggled again to get out of the inning. After Hernandez scored the fifth run for the Yellow Jackets, Georgia Tech managed to score two more while facing two outs thanks to back-to-back singles from Caleb Daniel and Carson Kerce, making it 7-3.

The Sooners were unable to attack in the bottom of the sixth, but it was the seventh inning when Sooner Magic began to shock the college baseball world. The bats began to fly in the bottom of the seventh with a Branch double and a Jason Walk single to start things out. Then just like that, a Branch run off of a fielder's choice and a Willits double cut the Georgia Tech lead, making it 7-5. 

The Sooners got another huge break in the bottom of the eighth. With a runner on first and third, Branch grounded out to Georgia Tech pitcher Mason Patel. Patel ended up bobbling the ball which allowed Harris to score, making it 7-6. 

Willits then tied it up in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single, forcing it to extra innings. One of the biggest heroes was senior pitcher Jackson Cleveland. He entered in the game during the top of the seventh for freshman Brisco Smith. He pitched the final 3 2/3 innings. He allowed just one walk and recorded four strikeouts. 

The 454-foot walk-off home run came from the power hitter himself, Dayton Tockey in the bottom of the tenth. This will be the first time the Sooners have reached the super regional round since the world series run back in 2022. 

UP NEXT: The Sooners will travel to Lawrence to face off against the No. 15 seed Kansas Jayhawks in a best-of-three series. Game 1 will either be on Friday, June 5 or Saturday, June 6. Kansas managed to avoid an if necessary game as they defeated Arkansas in the regional final 13-10. The Jayhawks also won the Big 12 Championship 9-0 against West Virginia.