David Sandlin dazzles, leads Oklahoma to 5-1 win and College World Series final

David Sandlin threw seven innings of one-run ball and struck out 12 Aggies to lead the Oklahoma Sooners to the CWS final for the first time since 1994.

Getting his first start since game two of the Blacksburg Super Regional, David Sandlin was electric in Oklahoma’s 5-1 win over Texas A&M. The redshirt sophomore from Owasso, Okla. threw seven innings and set a new career-high, striking out 12 Aggies.

After Sandlin struck out the side in the top of the first, the Oklahoma Sooners’ bats went to work in the bottom of the first.

With one out, Peyton Graham walked and Blake Robertson followed that up with a single to left. After Tanner Tredway lined out to center field, the Sooners got another big two-out hit from Jimmy Crooks, who took the first offering from Ryan Prager deep to right field for the three-run home run.

With the way Sandlin was pitching, that’s all the run support he would need as he threw five scoreless innings before Dylan Rock’s solo shot to lead off the sixth. After the home run, Sandlin retired the next six Aggies in order before giving way to closer Trevin Michael.

Michael gave the Sooners his trademark two innings to finish off the Aggies, inducing a double play to end the eighth and striking out Brett Minnich to end the game.

Crooks led the way for the Sooners, going 2-for-4 with his home run and three RBIs. John Spikerman continued his strong postseason, collecting another two hits, and Peyton Graham and Robertson each reached base twice.

Oklahoma heads to the College World Series final for the third time in school history and the first time since 1994, which was also the last time they won the national championship.

The Sooners now await the winner of tonight’s matchup between Arkansas and Ole Miss. Ole Miss can advance with a win while the Razorbacks need to win two games to meet the Sooners in the three-game series, which starts on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. CT.

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