With high expectations entering last weekend’s Norman Regional, most Sooner fans thought Oklahoma was in prime shape to return to the super regional – something they haven’t done since 2006.

Boy, how were they wrong.

The bats went silent. The pitching went south. And the Sooners are done.

The weekend started off great for the No. 7 national seeded Sooners when they took to the field versus No. 4 seed Wichita State Friday night.

In front of the fifth-largest crowd in L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark history (3,176), OU took care of business to open NCAA Tournament play by winning 5-4.

Down 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Sooners answered like they have all year.

Big 12 Player of the Year J.T. Wise led off the rally with a one-out walk followed by an Aaron Baker (2-for-4, HR, 1 RBI) double to the right center gap. The Baker double brought up Big 12 Freshman of the Year Garrett Buechele, who, in turn, answered the prayers of the Sooner faithful with a game-tying single, scoring Baker and Wise.

Designated hitter Ross Hubbard lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Buechele for the game’s go-ahead run.

Chase Anderson came into the game in relief of Oklahoma starter Andrew Doyle, who went a season low two and two-thirds innings, and was spectacular.

Anderson sat down 15 of the 17 batters he faced, and was in command of the entire game, until the bottom of the ninth when Oklahoma’s shut-down closer Ryan Duke came into record his 16th save of the season.

The victory placed the Sooners in the winner’s bracket against No. 2 seeded Arkansas for a Saturday night showdown.

And it was a one-sided showdown.

Arkansas pounded 20 hits en route to a 17-6 dismantling of the hometown favorite.

Razorback players Ben Tschepikow, Scott Lyons, Andy Wilkins and James McCann all recorded three hits or more as they led the charge, punching Arkansas’ ticket for a spot in the regional championship Sunday evening.

Oklahoma once again failed to win back-to-back games to open the NCAA Tournament, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 1998.

With the loss, Oklahoma fell into an elimination game against Washington State, a team OU split a four-game series with in Pullman, Wash., on Sunday afternoon. OU and Washington State took a 2-2 tie into the games seventh inning.

Aaron Baker’s first career grand slam sealed the game for the Sooners in a five-run seventh inning. The clutch homer came after J.T. Wise drove in the go-ahead run on an RBI single.

The home run marked Baker’s seventh home run in seven post-season games, as well as the four RBIs that brought his post-season total to 10.

The win also put the Sooners back in contention for a regional championship.

Arkansas had different plans, however, for the teams’ second matchup.

Razorbacks’ Drew Smyly pitched a no-hitter through eight and one-third innings, and the Arkansas bats relished the opportunity to crush Sooner pitching.

Once again, starting off to a strong start Arkansas scored two runs in the first inning off of starter Antwonie Hubbard. Hubbard gave up four earned runs while only lasting two and one-third innings.

Andy Wilkins, the regional’s Most Outstanding Player, delivered for the Hogs with a career-high five hits and five RBIs.

And Arkansas never looked back, winning 11-0.

The loss marks an end to the season, but the Sooners did accomplish a lot throughout the 2009 campaign, in which they posted a 43-20 record while on their way to a second place finish in the Big 12 regular season.

Jamie Johnson, Aaron Baker and pitcher Garrett Richards were named to the All-Regional Team, which Oklahoma has had at least three players named to an all-regional team in each of the last four NCAA appearances.

J.T. Wise and Garrett Buechele were named the Big 12’s Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively. While Wise was also honored being named to Collegiate Baseball’s second team All-American.

The accolades don’t stop there for Wise.

He is also one of 13 semifinalist for the 2009 Johnny Bench Award – awarded to the nation’s top catcher – and one of 30 semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award for the nation’s top player.

Junior Bryant Hernandez is also in contention for post-season honors, being named one of five finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, awarded to the nation’s top shortstop).

Oklahoma will lose seniors C.J. Blue, Matt Harughty, Trey Sperring and J.T. Wise off of the 2009 squad, as well as the possibility of losing more with the Major League Draft on June 9.