Things are going so poorly right now, the Oklahoma baseball team is taking losses even on days it's not playing.
Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball reported Thursday evening that Sooners right-handed ace Kyson Witherspoon will miss OU's series opener against No. 17 Vanderbilt on Friday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park. According to Rogers, Witherspoon has been dealing with back spasms and is expected to start on Saturday instead.
Some pitching news: @OU_Baseball RHP Kyson Witherspoon, the No. 6 prospect in the @d1baseball College 100, will have his start pushed back a day after dealing with some back spasms over the past 24 hours. He's fine, but #Sooners want him to go through usual routine. #MLBDraft
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) April 11, 2025
Sooners ace Kyson Witherspoon out Friday night
Witherspoon, a junior, has been the Sooners' Friday starter all season. He has a 2.40 ERA and 5-2 record in eight starts, but he's lost his last two outings. He's also third in the SEC and seventh in the country with 68 strikeouts.
The injury news comes at the worst time for the No. 19 Sooners, who are desperate for a turnaround to get back on track. At 23-9, OU is on a four-game losing streak after getting swept by LSU last weekend then losing to Dallas Baptist on Tuesday night. The Sooners have also dropped their last two SEC series.
In replace of Witherspoon on Friday will be lefty Cade Crossland on the mound. Crossland has made five starts this season and has a 7.06 ERA with a 1-2 record. Vanderbilt will also throw another lefty in JD Thompson, who has a 4.10 ERA and 2-2 record.
OU still has "TBA" for Saturday's starter, while Kyson's brother, Malachi Witherspoon, is listed as Sunday's starter, as usual. Vanderbilt has not announced its Sunday starter yet.
The Sooners' series with Vanderbilt will start at 7 p.m. CT Friday. If Kyson Witherspoon does pitch Saturday, he'll take the mound at 4 p.m. CT, shortly after the Sooners' "Crimson Combine."