Oklahoma baseball: Third time is charm for Sooners in 2023 against Wichita State
By Chip Rouse
![Sooner Kendall Pettis hits as the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) baseball team plays Rider at L. Dale Mitchell Park on Feb. 24, 2023 in Norman, Okla. [Steve Sisney/For The Oklahoman]Ou Practice](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F2df4afe5c58524f1604cd53a7562b2c84954822b6f93d07b8221aa83332f5ccb.jpg "Sooner Kendall Pettis hits as the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) baseball team plays Rider at L. Dale Mitchell Park on Feb. 24, 2023 in Norman, Okla. [Steve Sisney/For The Oklahoman]Ou Practice")
Oklahoma baseball had lost twice to the Wichita State Shockers this season. That was not the case on Tuesday night, though.
The Sooners, who were swept on the road in three games by Baylor last weekend, responded with an 8-1 midweek victory at home over Wichita State. Oklahoma never trailed in the game, striking first with a solo run in the first and four more in the fourth in what proved to be the winning runs.
Wichita State scored its lone run in the game in the top of the fourth on a home run by designated hitter Payton Tolle.
Three different Oklahoma players — Bryce Madron, Kendall Pettis and John Spikerman — collected two hits, accounting for six of the Sooners’ 10 hits in the game. The Sooners also capitalized on a pair of Wichita State errors.
The Shockers (18-14) used eight pitchers in an effort to throw the OU hitters off balance with different looks off the mound. The starters for both teams were gone after three innings. Neither allowed an earned run and only one hit between them. Nate Snead of Wichita State did not allow a hit in 3.0 innings, but did give up an unearned run to the Sooners in the first.
Oklahoma starter Gray Harrison left the game after 2.2 innings, having given up just one hit and no runs. Carter Campbell, who came on in relief for the Sooners after the four-run bottom of the fourth, got the win for OU, giving up no runs and just one hit in 2.0 innings.
Five Sooner pitchers in all appeared in the game. “We kind of got a nucleus of guys that we’re going to try adn use,” OU head coach Skip Johnson said to reporters after the game. “We needed to get those guys some work today for the weekend.”
Oklahoma, which dropped into last place in the Big 12 with a 3-6 record after losing three games to Baylor last weekend, improved to 18-16 overall with the win over Wichita State. The Sooners had lost 6-2 and 8-7 in two single games at Wichita State in March.
The Sooners stay at home this weekend, hosting Texas Tech (23-11, 4-5) for three games at L. Dale Mitchell Park beginning on Friday.