Freshman Cord Rager pitched seven shutout innings and Deiten Lachance homered despite an early injury, leading Oklahoma to a 9-0 victory over Alabama Tide at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday in their Men's College World Series opener.

Rager was nearly untouchable for Oklahoma in allowing just three hits and striking out eight without a walk. The Sooners' offense provided more than enough support, sparked by Lachance, who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored. After injuring an ankle in the first inning, Lachance remained in the game and blasted a two-run home run in the sixth. Jaxon Willits went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Dasan Harris drove in two runs on two hits and Trey Gambill added a two-run double.

Rager became the first freshman to throw four no-hit innings at the Men's College World Series since 2010 and just the third Sooners pitcher to throw seven or more scoreless innings in an MCWS game.

Alabama struggled to generate any offense against Rager and reliever LJ Mercurius, who pitched two scoreless innings to close the game. The Crimson Tide were held to just five singles, with Bryce Fowler, Justin Lebron, John Lemm, Eric Hines and Brennan Holt each recording one hit. Starting pitcher Tyler Fay worked through six innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits while striking out six.

The Sooners set the tone early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Gambill's double. Lachance's shot in the sixth extended the advantage to 5-0 before Oklahoma broke the game open with a four-run eighth inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Willits, Brendan Brock and Harris.

Up next: Alabama will face an opponent to be determined in an elimination game Monday at 2 p.m. ET. Oklahoma advances in the winners' bracket and will play Monday at 7 p.m. ET.

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