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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – No. 24 Tennessee put forth a valiant effort but was unable to complete the series sweep of No. 20 Oklahoma after digging itself an early hole in a 12-9 loss in Saturday’s series finale at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Battled all day long but came up just short. See everyone in Hoover. pic.twitter.com/Xg1UdgERve
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
It was a nightmare first inning for the Volunteers despite retiring the first two batters of the frame. Freshman Chandler Day, making his first-career start, struck out Jason Walk to start things off before getting a weak groundout for out number two, but things quickly went south after that.
E8 | Another two out solo homer for the Sooners has their lead back to three as we head to the ninth.
It's been a wild one, so why don't we just take the lead here in the top of the ninth? 🤷♂️
Ford will lead us off.
12-9 OU #GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/I2hOcGyYq0
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
The next eight batters reached base for the Sooners, who scored six runs on just two hits in the inning after being aided by a pair of UT errors and four walks. Just one of the six runs scored by OU in the first inning was earned, a Deiten LaChance solo home run to open the scoring.
M8 | Within two once again after Wright's two-out double.
Bo Rhudy coming in the from the pen to try and keep the deficit right there before our final turn at the plate.
11-9 Sooners
📺 https://t.co/bowjjq5u5h#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/JdxnDwMxyt
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
LaChance was a problem the Tennessee pitching staff was unable to solve all game long as he finished 4-for-5 with three solo homers and a triple for the Sooners.
We just keep on coming!
📺 https://t.co/bowjjq5u5h #GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/bcxR1mnNBj
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
Tennessee (37-19, 15-15 SEC) responded right back in the top of the second on a two-run blast from Levi Clark, his 13th homer of the year, after Reese Chapman led off the inning with a single.
Reese is RED HOT 🔥
4-4 now on the day!
📺 https://t.co/bowjjq5u5h #GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/RyhSFyP3gs
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
Oklahoma (32-20, 14-16 SEC) got those runs right back, however, scoring twice on three hits in the bottom of the second to retake a six-run lead.
Haas able to work around some traffic in the sixth to keep the deficit at four.
Antigua, Wright, Grimmer due up to start the seventh as we continue to battle back!#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/osGCd7bQms
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
The two sides traded runs in the fourth inning before the Big Orange struck for three more in the top of the fifth to really get themselves back in it.
Don't look now, but here come the Vols! We're within three.
📺 https://t.co/bowjjq5u5h #GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/QicivK31dl
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
Nate Eisfelder was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Ariel Antigua followed with a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Back-to-back sacrifice flies from Garrett Wright and Blake Grimmer brought home Eisfelder and Antigua before Henry Ford blasted his 18th home run of the year to cut the OU lead to 9-6.
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
The Vols chipped away at the Sooners’ lead once again in the top of the seventh as Chapman continued his huge day at the dish with a two-out, bases-loaded single to plate a pair of runs and cut the deficit to two at 10-8.
Levi drives Reese in with an RBI groundout to make it 8-3. https://t.co/c1dEftDXiU
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
Chapman finished with a career-high tying four hits with two runs scored in the final regular-season game of his career.
Scorched off the wall for a triple!
📺 https://t.co/bowjjq5u5h #GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/caBQ3Tl8jJ
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
LaChance’s third homer of the game extended Oklahoma’s lead back to three in the bottom of the seventh before the two sides exchanged runs once again in the eighth to make it 12-9 heading into the final inning.
B3 | Baiotto now takes over pitching duties from Hindy with one on and one out.
Solid work from Hindy to keep the Sooners from adding to their lead in his one inning of work.
8-2 OU#GBO🍊 // #OTH pic.twitter.com/FoF5jsyRZX
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
Sooners’ closer Jackson Cleveland was able to retire the side in order in the ninth to shut the door and pick up his eighth save, helping OU salvage a game in the series.
We'll take on No. 15 seed South Carolina at 4:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday in Hoover.#GBO🍊 https://t.co/oXp0prKeK9
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) May 16, 2026
UP NEXT: Tennessee will head to Hoover, Alabama for the SEC Tournament, where it will be the No. 10 seed and take on No. 15 seed South Carolina in Tuesday’s opening round. The Vols and Gamecocks are slated to square off in the third game of the day at 5:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
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