The Big 12-leading Oklahoma baseball team went west this weekend, traveling to Provo, Utah, for a three-game series with new conference opponent the BYU Cougars.
The Sooners took a 21-14 overall record (11-4 in conference play) with them to Utah while the Cougars stood 15-18 overall and 6-12 in the Big 12 to begin the series.
The Sooners also boasted series sweeps of three conference foes (UCF, TCU and Kansas State last weekend coming into the weekend series.
While in Provo, the Sooners added to their number of series sweeps of Big 12 opponents this season by breaking out the brooms and sweeping the now last-place Cougars.
Let's have a meeting at the mound and see how the Sooners' pitching staff faired against the Cougars of BYU in their first-ever conference matchup,
Game 1: Thursday, April 18
Oklahoma 10, BYU 8
Sam Houston State transfer and southpaw starter Braden Davis took the mound Thursday evening against the Cougars. Davis delivered yet another solid outing, working 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, walking three but with a whopping 11 strike outs on105 total pitches.
Reid Hensley, Carson Atwood and Malachi Witherspoon rounded out the Sooner bullpen help for teh evening, allowing a combined two runs on four hits, striking out four and waling the same number.
For the evening, the Sooners pitching totals were five runs on nine hits, an impressive 15 strikeouts while issuing four bases on balls. Davis earned the win with a quality start and improved to 4-3 for the season.
The Sooners captured the victory Thursday evening, despite a fielding error that ultimately led to three of the eight BYU runs.
Game 2: Friday, April 19
Oklahoma 12, BYU 6
Kyson Witherspoon took the hill Friday evening against the Cougars. Witherspoon worked five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, walking only one and fanning six on 94 pitches.
Carter Campbell, Dylan Crooks and Ryan Lambert followed the starter Witherspoon to the mound in relief, combining for three runs on two hits, walking two and striking out three.
The stat line for the Sooners' pitching staff in Game 2 was six runs on nine hits, nine total strikeouts and three walks. Witherspoon was awarded the win, his fourth to go with two losses in 11 appearanced this season and five starts.
Game 3: Saturday, April 20
Oklahoma 10, BYU 7
With the series with BYU already clinched, and the potential for yet another conference sweep, Grant Stevens took the bump Saturday afternoon in the series finale. The left-handed transfer from the University of Pacific, lasted just 2.0 innings. Stevens faced just 14 batters before head coach Skip Johnson was forced to turn to the bullpen. After 60 pitches, Stevens gave up five of BYU's seven total runs in the game on five hits. He struck out three, walked two and also hit a batter and was charged with a wild pitch.
The bullpen made an early appearance, and five Sooners relievers followed Stevens to the mound. Jet Lodes, James Hitt, Carson Atwood, Jace Miner and Malachi Witherspoon got the call from the bullpen and worked the final 7.0 innings, combining for two runs on five hits, striking out six and walking three. Lodes got the win, working 2.1 innings and allowing no runs on just one hit, walking two and striking out two. The win evened the senior right-hander's record at 1-1.
Upcoming
The Sooners return to the friendly confines of L Dale Mitchell Park this week, They will host Wichita State on Tuesday. This will be the third game between the two schools this season. OU won the previous two games. And over the weekend, Oklahoma will host Red River rival Texas for three games. The Longhorns are currently 11-7 and in third place in the Big 12 standings.
Oklahoma was able to widen its lead in the Big 12 standings to 2.5 games thanks to a pair of losses by second-place West Virginia over the weekend.
Boomer Sooner!