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Oklahoma baseball: Pair of Sooner freshmen earn top national honors

By Chip Rouse

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - JUNE 05: Baseballs are taken from a box as MLB pitchers practice in a backyard throwing session on June 05, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since the MLB season was paused indefinitely due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, players have been using the back yard at Seth Blairs' house to train and work on mechanics. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - JUNE 05: Baseballs are taken from a box as MLB pitchers practice in a backyard throwing session on June 05, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since the MLB season was paused indefinitely due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, players have been using the back yard at Seth Blairs' house to train and work on mechanics. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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A pair of Oklahoma baseball freshmen have been named 2020 Freshmen All-Americans by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Third baseman Peyton Graham and left-handed starting pitcher Jake Bennett were having strong freshman seasons for the Sooners when the 2020 college campaign was cut short and ultimately cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graham started at the hot corner in all 18 games for Oklahoma this season. He was the team’s second leading hitter with a .358 average. He ranked 15th in the nation in doubles (8), 45th in stolen bases (8), 49th in runs scored (19) and 55th in total bases at 41.

He was on a six-game hitting streak when the season ended and had collected multiple hits in half of his 18 games. His best game was a two-hit, two home-run game in an 8-4 Oklahoma win on March 7 against San Diego State.

Graham, who grew up in Waxahachie, Texas, just south of the Dallas metroplex, was named Big 12 Player of the Week on March 9, the first time an Oklahoma freshman had received that honor since Hunter Lockwood did it in 2012.

Bennett is from Bixby, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa. He started three games on the mound for OU this season and had a record of 3-0 with an ERA of 0.75 in 12 innings. The southpaw allowed just six hits in those three starts and collected 19 strikeouts.

Bennett’s  best game was on March 4 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He went four complete innings, allowing no hits and striking out nine.

Oklahoma finished the season with a 14-4 record and ranked 13th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

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