SEC conference play is well underway as the Alabama Crimson Tide host the Oklahoma Sooners in a top-15 showdown.
The Crimson Tide most recently took one of three at home against the top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers last weekend.
Will the Crimson Tide wrap up their SEC home stretch with a series win? Or will the Sooners continue their run of early dominance?
Here are some storylines from the weekend series.
Welcome to the SEC, Sooners.
Oklahoma is in its first season as a member of the SEC following conference realignment changes last summer.
It has been a stellar campaign for the Sooners, going 21-3 overall with a 4-2 record in SEC play.
Oklahoma has claimed series wins over South Carolina on the road and Mississippi State at home so far in conference play.
With a tough upcoming schedule that includes No. 8 LSU, No. 3 Georgia, and No. 7 Texas, this series is crucial for the Sooners away from home.
Crimson Tide is off to a hot start
You’d be hard-pressed to find an Alabama Crimson Tide team in recent memory that has performed as well as this team has to start a season.
The Crimson Tide are 23-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play with a series win over Texas A&M on the road.
Alabama swept the Jacksonville Classic earlier this season, beating Coastal Carolina and NC State, and overcoming a 10-run deficit to defeat Ohio State.
The Crimson Tide have only lost three home games this season out of 17, with two being against top-ranked Tennessee.
The history of Oklahoma-Alabama
Alabama leads the head-to-head series with a 5-2 record against Oklahoma since Feb. 10, 2001.
In the most recent meeting, the Sooners took two-of-three in a home series win over the Crimson Tide on the weekend of March 2-4, 2018.
Alabama’s last series win over Oklahoma was on the weekend of Feb. 10-11, 2001, when the Crimson Tide swept the Sooners at home.
Sooners players to watch
Third baseman Dawson Willis has been hard to beat on the basepaths this season, leading the team and the SEC in stolen bases with 12.
Shortstop Jaxon Willits has been fun to watch for Oklahoma, going yard with a team-high seven home runs this season.
Right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon has been among the best rotation pieces in the SEC this season, ranking second in the conference with 58 strikeouts to just seven walks.
In the bullpen, right-handed pitcher Dylan Crooks has been a stout closer for the Sooners with a team-high and SEC-leading seven saves.
Crimson Tide players to watch
Shortstop Justin Lebron has been stellar for the Crimson Tide, hitting a team-high 12 home runs this season.
Left fielder Kade Snell has been an efficient base-knock player this year with a team-high and SEC-third, .423 batting average.
On the mound, right-handed pitcher Carson Ozmer has locked things down in the bullpen with a team-leading, SEC-second six saves.
In the rotation, left-handed pitcher Zane Adams has a team-leading 32 strikeouts and has only walked 10 batters in 30.1 innings all season.
Bryan Portney is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.
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