All college baseball series are not created equal, and perhaps one of the classic examples of that is the in-state annual rivalry series between Oklahoma baseball and its counterparts at Oklahoma State. The reference to Bedlam is not done casually.
On a walk-off walk from Oklahoma State pitcher Trevor Martin, the Sooners walked away with the first Bedlam baseball game in the 2022 season. The Sooners prevailed 7-6 on Tuesday at ONEOK Field in Tulsa, a neutral field — but let’s be honest, very much in the heart of OSU territory.
It was a back-and-forth battle between the two longtime rivals, trading runs and getting key batters out through the course of the game.
Since the last nonconference series against New Orleans, the Sooner bats have been heating up. Last Friday, Oklahoma started Big 12 play with a series against Baylor. Oklahoma scored 22 runs in three games, which was a big part in taking two of three games from the Bears.
𝙒𝘼𝙇𝙆 𝙊𝙁𝙁 𝙒𝘼𝙇𝙆
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 30, 2022
𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐍#BOOMER pic.twitter.com/gXdyEXXXp4
On Tuesday night, the Sooners started out in an early 4-0 hole to the Cowboys in the second inning. Oklahoma responded, however, with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning, after an RBI-double from Cade Horton, an RBI from Max McGuire, and an RBI-single from Jackson Nicholas cut the deficit to 4-3.
After being deadlocked at 5-5 through seven innings, Oklahoma State first baseman David Mendham launched one over the left field wall in the eighth to put the Cowboys up 6-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Sooners showed they weren’t done yet. Peyton Graham was hit by a pitch to open the ninth for OU and advanced all the way to third on a couple of wild pitches Blake Robertson followed with an RBI single scoring Graham to tie the game.
After a couple walks allowed by Oklahoma State reliever Trevor Martin to load the bases, OU pinch-hitter Sebastian Orduna took the count full before taking ball four for a walk-off walk and delivering a 7-6 Oklahoma win. It was the first Bedlam win in Tulsa for the Sooners, since 2016.
Sooners head coach Skip Johnson had this to say after the Bedlam win:
"“We just kept persevering, coming back and doing our thing,” Skip Johnson said. “Javier (Ramos) was the unsung hero coming in and calming the storm. It was really a special time for him because these guys take pride in what they do. These guys are from Oklahoma. Every game is a big game for us, it doesn’t matter if it’s Tuesday, Friday or Saturday. You have to try to win all of them.”"
Johnson’s team has been resilient so far this season, and they keep responding after getting down early in games.
The Sooners are surrounded by a variety of young talent, as well as veteran guys who’ve been invested in the program. Freshmen infielder Jackson Nicholas has been a huge standout for the Sooners, leading the team with a batting average of .339, along with three homers and nine RBI.
Redshirt senior infielder/outfielder Tanner Tredaway continues to improve. Now in his fourth season at Oklahoma, the former JUCO transfer is hitting .321 with one homer and 19 RBI. Redshirt sophomore infielder Peyton Graham has demonstrated his power this season, slugging five homers and 15 RBI.
The Sooners have shown how deep they are in the starting lineup. with multiple players that can hurt you, and it’s been special to see that on display. Now,
Oklahoma has a date with another huge rival in the Texas Longhorns. The two teams will play a three-game weekend series at Globe Life Field, in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners hope to continue their hot start against Big 12 foes.