Tyler Ogle helps Sooners even Bedlam baseball series

Sooner baseball leveled this weekend’s Bedlam series Saturday night by defeating Oklahoma State, 7-5, at RedHawks Field in Oklahoma City.

Junior catcher Tyler Ogle was key to OU’s offensive success. Ogle went 2-for-5 with two solo homers and three RBIs.

The Sooners came out firing, scoring two runs quickly in the first. Junior third baseman Garret Buechele tripled down the right-field line with a runner on first base to drive in the first run of the game. Ogle then attempted to hit a sacrifice fly to right field, but the right fielder misplayed the ball and allowed Ogle to reach base while Buechele scored from third.

Oklahoma State tied the game by chipping away at OU’s lead. The Cowboys manufactured one run in the first as leadoff hitter Devin Shines walked, stole second and moved to third on fly out. The junior right fielder then came home on a single from junior catcher Jared Womack.

OSU scored again in similar fashion in the third inning to tie the game. Shines walked and was hit around the bases by the next three batters to score on a ground out.

OU did not let the tie hold, however, as it scored three runs in the fourth inning. Ogle hit his first homer of the night to lead off the inning. Senior left fielder Casey Johnson later doubled in a run and came around to score on a single from freshman second baseman Drew Dahlberg.

Ogle hit his second home of the night in the next inning to extend the lead to 6-2.

Ogle also was strong defensively. In the bottom of the fourth, Ogle made a circus catch after slipping on the rubber on-deck circle near the dugout. Ogle landed on his back but was able to concentrate enough to make the catch in what may be the defensive play of the season.

Junior starter Burch Smith was solid on the mound for Oklahoma until the sixth inning, when the Cowboys struck some fear into the hearts of the OU faithful with a three-run burst. Redshirt freshman Jordan John came in to finish the inning for Smith and stop the rally.

OU added another in the seventh to bring the score to its final of 7-5.

The win evened a series that started out with heartbreak for OU after a walk-off home run for OSU on Friday in Tulsa.

“I think the way our guys came back and fought today was a character statement,” OU coach Sunny Golloway said.

Ogle’s success at the plate in this year’s edition of Bedlam has been unprecedented for him. In his first two years against OSU, Ogle had zero RBIs; this year, he has six in two games.

“This year I think I’m seeing the ball a little better,” Ogle said. “I don’t really see where I go wrong against this team, but this year I’ve corrected it.”

The Sooners and Cowboys will play the rubber-match of the Bedlam series Sunday at RedHawks Field in Oklahoma City. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.

Freshman lefty Dillon Overton (5-3, 1.45 ERA) is slated to start for OU in his first Bedlam start. Overton pitched against just one batter in Friday’s loss and earned a win in the April 5 nonconference matchup against OSU in Norman. Overton pitched 6.1 innings of scoreless relief with eight strikeouts in the win.

Ryan Gerbosi

Ryan is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as News Reporter and Sports Reporter.