Inside-the-park HR and Michigan walking off No. 2 Virginia headline college baseball's opening day

Opening day of the 2025 college baseball season is finally here.

Teams across the country began the festivities for one of baseball's national holidays with intense invitational/tournament battles, ranked matchups and shocking walk-off winners. Here are some of the biggest moments and games from the opening day schedule.

Oklahoma freshman Kyle Branch hits inside-the-park home run

Freshman second baseman Kyle Branch started his college career with a bang, hitting a two-run inside-the-park-homerun in the fifth inning of Oklahoma’s 11-3 win over Lehigh.

Branch saw what he liked on the first pitch of the at-bat, hitting a line shot into right center. Sprinting in to make a diving catch, Lehigh's center fielder Jake Whitlinger couldn’t complete the highlight reel catch, resulting in the ball scampering to the warning track.

By the time right fielder Andrew Kohl tracked down the ball, Branch was already headed to third. The Hawks relay didn’t reach home plate in time, as Branch slid head first into home and bounced up quickly to celebrate with his teammates for his first collegiate home run.

how 'bout your first collegiate home run being an inside-the-parker? 🔥

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball)

The Sooners would go on to score two more runs in the matchup and Lehigh scored all three of its runs in the sixth. Branch finished 1-2 with two RBIs.

Michigan started the 2025 season on a high note, walking off on No. 2 Virginia in the 11th inning at The Puerto Rico Challenge. It’s the program’s first win against a ranked opponent since the 2022 season.

The Wolverines didn’t waste any time getting on the board, scoring on second baseman Mitch Voit’s double to right field and designated hitter Colby Turner’s RBI groundout in the first inning. The Cavaliers tied it at two apiece after scoring a run in the fourth and fifth.

After trading two-run home runs in the sixth and seventh from the bats of Michigan’s catcher Matt Spear and Virginia’s right fielder Chris Arroyo, respectively, the two teams entered a 3.5 inning stalemate.

The winning run didn’t come until the bottom 11th. Spear shined once again, hitting a hard one-hopper past UVA first baseman Antonio Perrotta and down the right field line and into foul territory. Voit, who walked earlier in the inning, raced around the bases and slid into home uncontested to hand Michigan the season-opening win. 

The Walk-off winner!

— Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball)

The Wolverines and Virginia both return to play on Saturday, facing Rice at 1 p.m. ET and Villanova at 7 p.m., respectively.

No. 4 Tennessee left-hander Liam Doyle threw a gem in the Volunteers season-opener, leading them to a 15-0 victory on a day of celebration.

The program unveiled their national championship signage on the outfield wall. Located in left field between former players’ retired numbers and the toyota signage, the white badge of honor has the team logo at the top with ‘national champions’ below it.

Tennessee Baseball unveils its national championship signage on the outfield wall.

— John Sartori (@JohnSartoriTV)

Doyle didn’t disappoint on the special occasion, throwing a one-hitter and striking out 11 in five innings, making quick work of Hofstra’s lineup. He struck out six batters between the second and third innings. 

Tennessee backed up the starter’s impressive performance on the mound with eight runs in the first four innings. They broke the game even more wide open in the sixth, crossing the plate seven more times.

The contest ended after seven innings.

What better way to end the first extra innings affair of the college baseball season than in an unpredictable fashion. 

No. 5 Arkansas escaped Washington State after a two-run 10th inning. But the result isn’t the crazy part, it’s how it happened.  

Tied 1-1 and heading into the 10th inning, the Cougars put the Razorbacks on upset alert three batters in. On third baseman Kyler Northrop’s weakly hit ground ball in front of the plate, Arkansas catcher Ryder Helfrick’s throw sailed past first baseman Rocco Peppi and into right field. Second baseman Ollie Obenour, who reached on an error, scored to give Washington State a 2-1 lead.

Cougs take a 2-1 lead in the 10th at Arkansas!

WATCH | SEC Network + |

M10 | 2-1 Cougs

— Washington State Baseball (@wsucougarbsb)

However, Arkansas roared back — without a hit. Wazzu closer Trevor Stowe walked three straight batters to load the bases with zero outs. Although he was able to strike out the next batter, a wild pitch during the next at-bat allowed the Razorbacks to score and tie the game.

Washington State subsequently intentionally walked designated hitter Logan Maxwell in hopes of setting up a double play opportunity to get out of the inning. Third baseman Brent Iredale erased that possibility, hitting a sacrifice fly to left field to score left fielder Justin Thomas Jr. and end the game.

The Razorbacks didn’t lead the entire game until the final play and had zero extra base hits. Wazzu walked two batters in the first nine innings and four in the 10th.

Game 1 of the Shriners Children College Showdown didn’t disappoint.

No. 15 Clemson climbed back to beat No. 17 Oklahoma State 6-5, following a two-run seventh inning that was enough to seal the deal. The Tigers capitalized on the Cowboys lack of control on the mound throughout the contest, eventually becoming too much for Oklahoma State to overcome.

Clemson starting pitcher Aidan Knaak was dealing early, striking out the Cowboys first six batters. Oklahoma State changed the narrative in the third inning, though, scoring three runs behind Avery Ortiz’s solo home run and right fielder Nolan Schubart’s double down the right field line.

Entering the fifth, the Cowboys led 4-1 and Knaak’s day was over. 

That’s when Clemson turned the tides, and Oklahoma State began to fall apart. The Cowboys struggled to find the strike zone, walking or hitting six batters across the next three innings. Combined with four hits, the Tigers tacked on four runs and added another through a wild pitch. 

Oklahoma State’s bats told another tale in the last five innings. They cooled off at the plate, collecting just one run on back-to-back doubles while striking out six times.

Through eight innings, Louisville had just four hits and nine strikeouts, leaving five runners on base in a scoreless outing. That all changed in the ninth inning. Down 2-0, the Cardinals put together their best offensive stretch of the night, with three hits. A single from Garret Pike led to two RBIs to force extra innings.

However, Texas didn't go away quietly. In the second at-bat in the top of the 10th, Rodriguez hit a solo home run to put the Longhorns back in front 3-2. The "Cardiac Cardinals" responded with an answer in the bottom of the tenth. Zion Rose hit a game-tying single to tie the game with one out.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED???

📺 ($) |

— Louisville Baseball (@LouisvilleBSB)

A few at-bats later, Lucas Moore was up-to-bat with bases loaded. He hit the ball into left field to land Louisville the early-season upset.

RELENTLESS LOUISVILLE WALKS OFF TEXAS WITH 2 RUN 10TH

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7)