OU's Season Ends in Regional Final

Monday, June 3

Norman

8 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

40-21

UConn

35-24

UConn

Oklahoma

June 04, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score: UConn 7, OU 1

NORMAN — Oklahoma saw its season come to an end Monday night in a 7-1 loss to UConn in the NCAA Norman Regional final.

A day after staving off elimination with back-to-back wins to force Monday's regional finale, the Sooners (40-21) couldn't produce runs in a game where UConn (35-24) left-handed starter Gabe Van Emon threw seven scoreless innings with just two walks and five hits allowed.

"We just didn't play very good tonight," said OU head coach Skip Johnson. "We just never could really sustain a rally. Hats off to UConn. They did a great job and they're moving forward. They have a good ball club, I look forward to watching them in the Super Regional.

"Our year came to an end. We had a good year. I'm proud of the coaches and I'm proud of all these guys right here. They set a mark on the program. The fans were incredible. That's what it takes to be in the SEC. If we have the fan support we did the last half of the year, I'm so excited about that moving forward. I'm just proud of the guys for fighting and continuing to fight."

After three scoreless innings where OU starting RHP Carson Atwood put the Huskies down in order in the second and third, the UConn offense hit a pair of two-run home runs in the fourth to open the game up.

A costly two-out throwing error on a dropped third strike allowed the Huskies to take advantage with the second two-run shot of the inning to make it 4-0 after four. The visitors added another pair in the fifth via consecutive RBI singles.

To the eighth, UConn added one with another run-scoring single.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Sooners broke up the shutout on a groundout double play that allowed sophomore Easton Carmichael to cross home after he led off the frame with a single.

OU used six pitchers in the game with Atwood (L, 1-1) taking his first loss of the season, throwing 3.2 innings with three runs allowed (2 ER) on three hits to go with four strikeouts and no walks. Junior Ryan Lambert struck out three in 2.1 innings of relief and senior James Hitt fanned one.

At the plate, senior Michael Snyder went 3-for-3 to lead OU while Carmichael went 2-for-4 for his team-best 32nd multi-hit game of his sophomore campaign.

The Sooners put together an exceptional 2024 season, winning 40 games for the second time in three seasons and winning the program's first Big 12 regular season title by three games.

NCAA Norman Regional All-Tournament Team

C: Scott Mudler, Oklahoma

IF: Michael Snyder, Oklahoma

IF: Paul Tammaro, UConn

IF: Zac Morris, Duke

IF: Luke Broadhurst, UConn

OF: Korey Morton, UConn

OF: Bryce Madron, Oklahoma

OF: A.J. Gracia, Duke

DH: Easton Carmichael, Oklahoma

P: Stephen Quigley, UConn

P: Jett Lodes, Oklahoma

Most Outstanding Player: Korey Morton, UConn

For updates and more information on Oklahoma baseball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.