Oklahoma baseball: Monday mound visit
This past weekend, the Big 12 champion Oklahoma baseball team took its show on the road, for a three-game series against conference newcomer Cincinnati.
The Sooners welcomed the Bearcats to the Big 12 by sweeping a doubleheader on Thursday before losing the series finale on Friday, The doubleheader win gave Oklahoma (34-8. 23-7) sole possession of the Big 12 regular-season crown.
Let's take a walk out to the mound to see how the Sooners' pitching staff fared against the bats of the Bearcats.
Game 1: Thursday, May 16 (game one of a double header)
Sooners 14, Bear Cats 6.
Southpaw Braden Davis took the mound for the Sooners in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader at Cincinnati. Davis, who has become OU's ace starter, worked six innings, allowing three runs on two hits, fanning eight and walking only two batters on 96 pitches.
Carson Atwood, Reid Hensley and Jett Lodes emerged from the bullpen in relief of Davis. The Sooners relievers combined for three runs on four hits, no walks and three strikeouts.
For the game, the Sooner pitching staff yielded six runs on six hits, walked two and struck out 11 Cincinnati hitters. The Sam Houston State transfer Davis earned his sixth straight win to improve to 8-3 on the season.
Game 2: Thursday, May 16 (game two of a double header)
Oklahoma 12, Cincinnati 8
Kyson Witherspoon took the bump for game two of the doubleheader Thursday evening. Witherspoon worked five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking only one and striking out six with 95 pitches.
Carter Campbell, Dylan Crooks and Ryan Lambert came on in relief, before Malachi Witherspoon completed the Witherspoon sandwich by coming on in the closer role.
The Sooner pitching staff in Game 2 combined to give up eight runs on 12 hits, walked two and struck out 10. The win went to Kyson Witherspoon, his seventh against three losses.
Game 3: Friday, May 17
Bearcats 10, Sooners 6
Grant Stevens took the hill for the Sooners in the series finale on Friday. Stevens lasted just two innings, allowing no runs on four hits, striking out two and issuing no walks on 40 pitches.
Head coach Skip Johnson practically emptied the bullpen following Stevens to the mound in relief.
The eight OU relief pitchers combined for all eight of the Bearcats' runs on eight hits, seven walks with only two strikeouts.
Malachi Witherspoon suffered the loss, bringing his record to 2-2 on the season.
Talk with T-Row
Commentary by the Voice of the Sooners, Toby Rowland.
The most important development of the weekend for the OU pitching staff was seeing the dominance of Braden Davis return against Cincinnati. After uncharacteristic struggles the week before, Davis was back to looking like an ace, going six innings with eight strikeouts on his way to his 8th victory of the season and his 6th-in-a-row.
Fair questions continue to linger about the Sooners third starter going into the postseason. The Oklahoma bullpen gave up a six-run lead in the series finale as Cincy took Game 3. But, there are good options for Skip Johnson to consider. The answer will likely depend on matchups in Arlington and in the NCAA Tournament.”
Upcoming
In the coming week, the Sooners will be playing in the Philips 66 big 12 Championship. The Sooners are the No. 1 seed in the postseason conference tournament.
Boomer Sooner!