Skip Johnson reveals how momentum shifted following Ole Miss' three-straight home runs

After Ole Miss jumped out to a 4-0 lead over Oklahoma early in Game 1 of the finals of the College World Series, the Sooners began to make their comeback. Skip Johnson watched on as his squad cut the lead in-half, making the game 4-2 with just over a third of the game remaining.

However, the Rebels pulled out one of the greatest moments any Ole Miss baseball fan has ever seen — back-to-back-to-back home runs in the top of the eighth inning. TJ McCants, Calvin Harris and Justin Bench extended their team’s lead to 8-2, which eventually turned into a 10-3 victory for the Rebels.

Afterwards, Johnson spoke about how the wild sequence of events turned the game, shifted momentum and ensured Ole Miss would capture victory in Game 1.

“We got some balls in their hot zone, and they deposited them,” explained Johnson. “They’re good players, and I mean, I think the hardest ball hit all night was a line drive off of Carter Campbell. I don’t know what the TrackMan says. I’m sure you guys probably do, but, I mean, it was pretty scary to me.

“I mean, we made that play. We’ve got to continue to move forward and really execute what our game plan is.”

Oklahoma showed their ability by cutting into the Ole Miss deficit, but the Rebels continue to prove they’re no fluke, answering the call again and again. Now, Skip Johnson and the Sooners will be hoping to stop their opponents from celebrating on Sunday, looking to extend the College World Series finals to three games.

Skip Johnson provides initial assessment following CWS Game 1 loss to Ole Miss

Skip Johnson was filled with disappointment from Oklahoma being dealt their first loss in Omaha, but the clock hasn’t struck midnight just yet.

Following the Sooners’ 10-3 loss, Johnson gave his initial assessment of the game, as well as what his team needs to do to force a third game against Ole Miss.

“I really thought they took the momentum from the beginning of the game,” began Johnson. “We kind of settled back in. Jake settled back down and made some really quality pitches as he went through it. Hats off to them for taking the momentum of the game. We had a chance to get back in the game to take the momentum back, scored two runs. They brought a reliever in. Did a great job.

“Basically they took the momentum over the last game when we had two — I think one, two innings to end that game. We have to continue to get better, learn from our lesson today, and move on.”

While Ole Miss has all the momentum heading into Sunday’s showdown, Oklahoma has proven doubters wrong time and time again throughout the season. Skip Johnson will have his team motivated for their biggest game of the season on Sunday.