Auburn beats Oklahoma in Game 1 of series

TL;DR

Auburn defeated Oklahoma 6-4 in Game 1 of their series, putting pressure on the Sooners' postseason hopes. Oklahoma's starter LJ Mercurius struggled, leading to an early exit.

Key points

Auburn beat Oklahoma 6-4 in Game 1.
Oklahoma's postseason hopes are at risk.
LJ Mercurius struggled as Oklahoma's starter.
Auburn scored five runs in the first four innings.

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Auburn beats Oklahoma in Game 1 of series

Just about every Oklahoma baseball series from this point on is massive for the Sooners' postseason hopes. Friday didn't provide the best start.

The 13th-ranked Sooners will make the NCAA Tournament, barring a total collapse in the season's final month, but OU has visions of hosting a regional in Norman, as well. Collecting series wins would do it. But Auburn set Oklahoma on the back foot in the opener, 6-4.

The No. 9 Tigers tagged OU for five runs in the first four innings, chasing starter LJ Mercurius after three-plus. Mercurius gave up two first-inning solo home runs, an RBI single in the second frame and walked the first batter of the fourth before coach Skip Johnson pulled him. Mason Bixby then gave up a two-run shot on the second pitch he threw as Auburn countered Oklahoma's two runs from the top half of the inning to take a 5-2 lead.

OU appeared to be pulling things back in the top of the fourth with an RBI double from Brendan Brock and an RBI single from Deitan LaChance before Auburn's equaling in the bottom. The two teams traded a run apiece in the seventh and Oklahoma managed just one more run, another LaChance RBI single in the eighth, before things ended.

Auburn's lineup was too good. The Tigers picked up 17 base-runners via 11 hits, four walks and two hit batters, and really, deserved more than the six runs. LaChance and Jason Walk picked up two hits each for the Sooners, but Oklahoman managed just two extra-base hits on the game, limiting scoring chances.

Game 2 is set for Saturday at 6 p.m. from Alabama.

Oklahoma's Kendall Wells (1) watches her home run in the second inning during the college softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs at Love's Field in Norman, Okla., Friday, April, 24, 2026. Wells sett the new OU softball single-season home run record.