Oklahoma baseball: Monday mound visit

This weekend, the No. 22-ranked Oklahoma baseball team took its show on the road to Lubbock, Texas, for a three-game series against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech.

The Sooners went into the weekend series with a 26-17 record (15-6 in conference play) and a rather precarious perch atop the big 12 standings by one game over Texas.

The Sooners had enjoyed four conference sweeps for the first time in Big 12 history and were on a nine game winning streak before it was snapped a week agin the series against Texas.

The Sooners emerged victorious from the weekend, taking all three games against Texas Tech and earning their first series sweep in Lubbock since 2006, It also marked their fifth conference sweep of the season.

Let's take a walk out to the mound, and see how the Sooners pitching staff faired against the tough Red Raider lineup that leads the Big 12 with a team batting average of ..308.

Game 1: Friday, May 3

Sooners 8, Red Raiders 0

Sam Houston transfer and southpaw Braden Davis took the mound for the Sooners Friday evening and delivered an absolutely stellar performance, pitching seven innings of shutout ball. During his spectacular outing, the ace of the OU starting rotation allowed only two hits, while striking out eight and walking two on108 pitches.

Senior reliever Will Carsten acted as the closer for the Sooners in Game 1, sealing the shutout by pitching two scoreless innings in which he allowed two hits and no runs, while giving away no free passes on 19 pitches.

For the game, the Sooners' two-man pitching duo finished off the shutout, the first against Texas Tech this season, allowing just two hits with nine combined strikeouts and two bases on balls. Davis was awarded the win, improving his record to 6-3.

Game 2: Saturday, May 4.

Sooners 7, Red Raiders 5.

The Sooners would broke out the Witherspoon sandwich on Saturday afternoon, with Kyson Witherspoon taking the hill for the Sooners to start the game, and twin brother Malachi finishing up as the closer.

Like his teammate the day before, Witherspoon worked into the seventh inning against the potent Red Raider lineup. The sophomore right-hander allowed three runs on four hits, struck out seven but also gave up five walks on 112 pitches.

Carter Campbell, Dylan Crooks and Malachi Witherspoon followed the Kyson to the mound and preserved the win for the Sooners. Collectively, the three Oklahoma relivers allowed two more runs on three hits, walked one and struck out one. The win went to Kyson Witherspoon, bringing his to 5-3 for the season.

Game 3: Sunday, May 5

Sooners 8, Red Raiders 7.

Bullpen pitcher Carson Atwood picked up a rare start on the bump Sunday afternoon for the Sooners.

Atwood worked the first 3.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits and walking four with no strikeouts while throwing 54 pitches.

Sooner head coach Skip Johnson utilized a large portion of his bullpen to finish out the game, trotting out James Hitt, Brendan Girton, Carter Campbell, Dylan Crooks, Ryan Lambert and Malachi Witherspoon, none facing more than six batters, in relief of Atwood.

The relievers combined for five runs on seven hits, striking out four and walking the same number.

The starter Campbell earned the win for the Sooners, his third of the season without a loss, and Malachi Witherspoon was awarded the save, getting the final three outs in the bottom of the ninth with the winning runs on second and third with no outs.

Here's what voice of the Sooners Toby Rowland, had to say about this weekend’s action on the diamond.

Talk with T-Row

Commentary by Sooners' radio voice Toby Rowland.

It was a very impressive weekend for the OU baseball! Tallying the first Sooners sweep of Texas Tech in Lubbock since 2006 is no small feat. And the pitching deserves a significant amount of the credit for OU’s fifth conference sweep of the year.

Braden Davis may very well be in line for a second-consecutive Big 12 Pitcher-of-the-Week award after another sensational start on Friday night. He went seven shutout innings in an 8-0 Game 1 victory, handing the Red Raiders their first shutout of the season. Will Carsten also looked as good as he has all season in relief.

Kyson Witherspoon was almost equally as dominant on Saturday, getting the win in Game 2. Dylan Crooks made impressive appearances out of the bullpen on both Saturday and Sunday. And Malachi Witherspoon got the save in the finale after inheriting runners at second and third with no outs and only allowing one run to score as the Sooners hung on to an 8-7 victory.

The pitching continues to improve all around as we near postseason, which is a very encouraging sign.”

Upcoming

The Sooners return home to the friendly confines of L Dale Mitchell Park, to play host to the Baylor Bears in a three-game series next weekend.

Boomer Sooner!