Oklahoma baseball: Monday mound visit

Editor's This article was written by contributor Cameron Black. It is part of his regular weekly Oklahoma baseball feature taking a look back at the weekend performance of the Sooners' pitching staff.

The Sooners opened conference play this weekend, welcoming the UCF Knights to the Big 12 Conference by breaking out the brooms for a series sweep.

Following a rough road trip to Las Vegas, both offensively and on the mound a week ago, the Sooners' offense came to life once again at home over this past weekend at L. Dale Mitchell Park, and the pitching staff performed to expectations.

Let's take a closer look at how the Oklahoma pitching staff performed against the Knights of UCF.

Game 1: Saturday, March 9 (game one of a double header)

Oklahoma 4, UCF 3

 Southpaw Braden Davis took the mound for the Sooners in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. Davis worked the first six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, fanning six and yielding no free passes on 89 pitches.

Missouri State transfer Ryan Lambert entered the game in the seventh in relief of Davis, but his outing was short lived. Lambert threw just 12 pitches, allowing one run on one hit and walking two of the three batters he faced.

The Witherspoon twins, Malachi and Kyson, finished off the Knights over the final three innings, holding UCF scoreless on two hits, striking out three and walking one.

In Game 1 of Saturday's twin bill, the Sooners' pitching staff combined to give up three runs on nine hits while striking out nine and issuing three free passes. Malachi Witherspoon was awarded the win in relief and brother Kyson earned a save.

 Game 2: Saturday, March 9 (game two of a doubleheader)

Oklahoma 11, UCF 3

Redshirt-junior Brendan Girton, a Texas Tech transfer, got the starting call for the Sooners in game two of the Saturday doubleheader. Girton had a rough outing, going only 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out four and walking three.

The call to the bullpen came early in the game. Carson Atwood, Grant Stevens, Reid Hensley and Brad Pruett followed the right-hander The quartet combined to allow just one run on three hits, they struck out eight UCF hitters and walked two. Stevens, who worked 2.2 innings was awarded the win, his second of the season without a loss.

The combined stat line for the four OU pitchers who worked in Game 2 of the doubleheader, completing the Saturday sweep: three runs on six hits, a dozen strikeouts and five walks.

 Game 3: Sunday, March 10

Oklahoma 14, UCF 2

On Sunday afternoon, senior and fellow Texas Tech transfer James Hitt took the mound to finish off the series sweep over the Knights. Hitt worked the first 5.2 innings, allowing only one run on four hits, walking two and fanning five on 88 pitches.

The bullpen finished out the game, with Jace Miner, Kyson Witherspoon and Carter Campbell all seeing action. The Sooner pen gave up only one run on one hit, walking two.

The Sooners' stellar pitching totals in the series finale were just two runs on five hits, five strike outs and four walks. The win went to starter Hitt, evening his season record at 1-1.

 All and all, a strong weekend performance by the Sooners' pitching staff. what voice of Here is what voice of the Sooners Toby Rowland had to say about the Oklahoma baseball weekend:

 Talk with T-Row

It was a really nice bounce back weekend for Oklahoma across the board, especially on the mound in their Big 12 opening sweep of UCF. Left-handed starters Braden Davis and Jamie Hitt were as good as they’ve been all season. Skip Johnson said Hitt pitched as well as he has in the past year-and a half in the series finale.

The Sooners also got clutch appearances out of the bullpen from the Witherspoon twins in Game 1, as well as Carson Atwood in a sticky situation in Game 2.

Game 2 starter Brendan Girton was the only Sooner starter that struggled, exiting in the 3rd inning Saturday night. All-in-all, a very encouraging weekend for the Crimson & Cream and an excellent start to conference play.”

Upcoming 

Next weekend, the Sooners will travel to Fort Worth Texas, to continue conference play against the Horned Frogs of TCU in a three-game series. Before that, however, OU will play a pair of midweek games. On Tuesday, the Sooners will host Bedlam rival Oklahoma State. That game will not count in the conference standings. On Wednesday, OU will travel to Arlington, Texas, for a nonconference game against the University of Texas-Arlington.

 Boomer Sooner!