AP

Graham hits first grand slam of NCAAs, Oklahoma tops Liberty

Jun 3, 2022, 2:17 AM | Updated: 2:22 pm

Oklahoma Kendall Pettis (7) and Wallace Clark (6) celebrate after Pettis hit a home run against Lib...

Oklahoma Kendall Pettis (7) and Wallace Clark (6) celebrate after Pettis hit a home run against Liberty during the first game of the Gainesville Regionals in the NCAA college Division 1 baseball championships in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, June 3, 2022. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)

(Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)


              Oklahoma's Jimmy Crooks (3) rounds third base on his way to score the first run against Liberty in the first game of the Gainesville Regionals in the NCAA college Division 1 baseball championships in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, June 3, 2022. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
            
              Liberty's Stephen Hill (17) slides into home to score against Oklahoma during the first game of the Gainesville Regionals in the NCAA college Division 1 baseball championships in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, June 3, 2022. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
            
              Liberty's Stephen Hill, left, just misses tagging out Oklahoma John Spikerman, right, during the first game of the Gainesville Regionals in the NCAA college Division 1 baseball championships in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, June 3, 2022. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
            
              Liberty starting pitcher Dylan Cumming throws against Oklahoma during the first game of the Gainesville Regionals in the NCAA college Division 1 baseball championships in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, June 3, 2022. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
            
              Oklahoma starting pitcher Jake Bennett (54) throws against Liberty during the first game of the Gainesville Regionals in the NCAA college Division 1 baseball championships in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, June 3, 2022. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
            
              Oklahoma Peyton Graham (20) swings against Liberty during the first game of the Gainesville Regionals in the NCAA college Division 1 baseball championships in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, June 3, 2022. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)
            
              Oklahoma Kendall Pettis (7) and Wallace Clark (6) celebrate after Pettis hit a home run against Liberty during the first game of the Gainesville Regionals in the NCAA college Division 1 baseball championships in Gainesville, Fla., Friday, June 3, 2022. (Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via AP)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Peyton Graham hit the first grand slam of this season’s NCAA Tournament and No. 9 overall seed Oklahoma beat Liberty 16-3 on Friday in the Gainesville Regional.

Graham’s shot highlighted and capped an eight-run fifth inning for a 14-3 lead. The first eight batters of the inning scored as Oklahoma (38-20) took control.

Graham was 2 for 6 with four RBIs. His 17th homer of the season was also his third grand slam. John Spikerman also had four RBIs after going 4 for 5 with a homer. Oklahoma tallied 17 hits, including Kendall Pettis’ two-run homer.

Jake Bennett (8-3) struck out nine while allowing nine hits and three earned runs.

Dylan Cumming (5-5) was pulled after four innings of work. He allowed five runs and eight hits.

Liberty (37-22) scored all three runs in the first before Spikerman and Pettis hit back-to-back shots to take the lead for good.

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Graham hits first grand slam of NCAAs, Oklahoma tops Liberty