Oklahoma baseball: Monday mound visit
This weekend in Oklahoma baseball, it was utter bedlam in the state of Oklahoma, and unfortunately for the Sooners, this year’s Bedlam baseball series with Oklahoma State did not go in their favor.
The Oklahoma Sooners (29-23, 10-12 Big 12) hosted the Oklahoma State Cowboys (36-15, 14-8 Big 12)
The Sooners won the middle game on Friday evening, only to get absolutely drudged in the first and third games, dropping the series two games to one to the Cowboys.
Join me as we walk to the mound, to see what went right with the Sooners pitching staff Friday evening, and what went horribly wrong the other two games.
Thursday, May 18, 6:30 PM
Oklahoma State 13, Oklahoma 2
Braxton Douthit took the mound for the Sooners, and while he would not be there long, much damage was done during the three innings that the ball was in his hands.
Douthit allowed 10 runs on five hits (eight runs earned) walked four batters and hit three batters with pitches.
He struck out four, and he threw 89 pitches in just 3.0 innings of work.
Carson Atwood and Aaron Calhoun entered the game in relief over the next 4.1 innings, and combined for three runs on five hits, with a combined three strikeouts and only one walk and one hit batter.
Julien Hachem and Payten Olejnik followed on the mound for the Sooners. Neither allowed any hits or runs, but Hachem walked two, Olejnik hit one batter with a pitch, and neither had a strikeout.
Colton Sundloff finished off the game, pitching for one inning, allowing no hits or runs, walking two, striking out two, and causing one to hit into a fly out.
All and all a rough series starter for the Sooners’ pitching staff, which allowed 13 runs on 10 hits (11 runs earned) walked nine and hit five different batters in the series opener.
Douthit wasw charged with the loss, and what started out as a promising season for Douthit, has now dropped to a 4-5 record.
Friday, May 19, 6:30 PM.
Oklahoma 5, Oklahoma State 0
In the humble opinion of this novice baseball writer, I would say that Braden Carmichael is unquestionably the Sooners’ ace.
This section of the Monday Mound Visit will be rather short, but for the best of reasons, because the lefty Carmichael took the mound for the Sooners on Friday evening, and he was dealing.
Carmichael threw a complete game on Friday evening.
He used 96 pitches through nine innings, allowing only four hits and ZERO runs, and ZERO walks.
He struck out five, hit one batter, and the others hit into 17 fly outs and four ground outs.
Carmichael picked up the win, bringing his record to 7-0 on the season.
May 20, 4:00 PM.
Oklahoma State 11, Oklahoma 1
It has been a good season for Sooner pitcher James Hitt, up to Saturday afternoon, anyway.
Hitt threw 49 pitches just to get out of 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking one and not striking out any.
Carter Campbell and Will Carsten worked the next 4.1 innings, allowing a combined five runs on three hits, with four walks and no strikeouts.
Carson Pierce and Aaron Webber worked 1.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, with no walks and only one strikeout.
Jett Lodes came in to finish off the game, but by this time the Sooners were looking at a 10-run deficit. Lodes did not allow any runs or hits, no walks, one strikeout and a ground out, bringing the game and the series to a merciful end.
The Sooners pitching staff on Saturday allowed 11 runs on 14 hits, walked five and only struck out two Cowboy batters.
Hitt was charged with the loss, dropping his previously spotless record to 5-1 on the season.
Fingers could be pointed at the Sooners offense and a lack of run support (and that has been a recurring theme all season) and while those accusing fingers would be correct, the Sooners have been experiencing pitching woes throughout the 2023 season. Their pitching staff has placed them in a position where it would take a large amount of run support to make the difference.
The Big 12 Conference Tournament is up next, and I will return with a Monday Mound Visit, to see how the Sooners pitching staff faired.