Oklahoma baseball: OU’s Jake Bennett is Big 12 Pitcher of the Week
By Chip Rouse
Oklahoma baseball starting pitcher Jake Bennett has earned Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors for the week ending May 1.
The redshirt-sophomore Friday starter for the Sooners shut down Kansas State in a seven-inning quality start this past weekend. Bennett, a left-hander, allowed no runs and just two hits while striking out 11 of the 23 batters he faced and no walks. Oklahoma went on to win the game 14-2.
Kansas State had entered the game with the Sooners averaging 6.5 runs and nearly 10 hits a game. Bennett’s 11 strikeouts against the Wildcats equaled a career high.
It was Bennett’s second quality start in as many outings. A week ago, he pitched six strong innings against Kansas, giving up two runs on five hits, striking out seven and issuing a couple of walks.
The OU southpaw starter, who hails from Bixby, Oklahoma, has gone at least 6.0 innings in 11 of his starts this season and has allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his 11 starting appearances. His season record stands at 4-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 65 2/3 innings. He has 75 strikeouts so far this season.
Bennett is the third Oklahoma pitcher and fourth Sooner overall to receive a Big 12 weekly award this season. Chazz Martinez was named Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 28 and starter David Sandlin was Newcomer of the Week for the week ending March 14. First baseman Blake Robertson was named Newcomer of the Week a week ago.
The other Big 12 honorees this week are Caleb Upshaw of Kansas and Nolan McLean of Oklahoma State, who shared the Player of the Week award. Upshaw also was honored as Newcomer of the Week.