Behind a pair of strong performances from the offense, the Sooners dominated Columbia in the first two games of the four game weekend set, winning 12-3 in game one and 9-1 in game two.
Here are three takeaways from Friday’s wins:
The Sooners scored in bunches
The Sooners had six multi-run innings on the day and scored all but two of their 21 runs within those innings, doing so behind the run production of eight different hitters and a number of different scoring methods.
Early fireworks set the stage for two solid performances at the dish, as the Sooners scored 13 of its 21 total runs in the first three innings. Oklahoma, who had failed to score in the first inning all season before Friday, put up six first inning runs on the day. In game one, senior Brylie Ware opened the scoring with a two-run shot and sophomore Tyler Hardman capped off a four run first inning in game two with a two-run shot of his own.
“When you establish the lead early, the pitcher is always going to get better. He’s going to throw his breaking ball better [and] command the ball better,” coach Skip Johnson said. “I was really proud of our offense tonight.”
The third inning was the most productive frame of the night, as it helped the Sooners increase their lead as the starting pitchers continued to hold Columbia scoreless. In game one, a two-out, two-run double by freshman Diego Muniz gave Oklahoma a commanding 6-0 cushion. Back-to-back third inning long balls by Hardman and junior Brady Lindsly stretched the lead to 7-0 in game two.
The top of the lineup had a high level of production
The top of the lineup’s success was best represented by the first two Sooner batters of game two: redshirt sophomore Jordan Vujovich and junior Brandon Zaragoza.
Vujovich forced Columbia pitcher Jordan Chriss to throw ten pitches before eventually drawing a walk to start off the game. Zaragoza stepped in as the No. 2 hitter and worked another lengthy at-bat before bouncing a single into left-center field. Just two batters later, the Sooners had four runs on the scoreboard.
“We talk about quality at-bats vs. batting average. It’s hard to talk about it because hitting and offense are so much different. Offense is about run-scoring,” Johnson said. “If we can continue with that mindset and get away from batting averages, I think it’s really good.”
The top five hitters in the lineup certainly had their share of quality at-bats, as they combined for a .463 average in the two games.
Hardman’s two home runs accounted for four of his five RBIs on the day, as the reigning Big 12 Player of the Week continued his success at the plate.
Senior Brylie Ware’s slight injury concerns went out the window on Friday night. The senior third baseman came up hobbling after rounding second base against Cal State Fullerton on Sunday and did not start against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday. In his return to the starting lineup, Ware knocked four hits against the Columbia pitching staff, including a two-run homer in his first at-bat of the afternoon.
Zaragoza has quietly been one of Oklahoma’s hottest hitters. The junior shortstop did not participate in the extra base hit showcase on Friday but did knock five singles in the two games and scored four runs.
Starters Continue Success
Ever since he allowed a run on three hits in the first inning of his previous start against San Diego, sophomore Cade Cavalli has allowed only three hits over the course of 12 scoreless innings. Cavalli retired his last seven batters before he was pulled after a successful six inning outing.
Despite allowing seven hits in six innings of work in game two, junior Nathan Wiles allowed only one run and did more than enough to earn his third win of the season.
The pitching staff as a whole has now allowed three runs or fewer in nine of ten games.
“They’ve been big for us,” Ware said of the starters. “The past couple games they’ve thrown they’ve kept us in the game and have kept the other team off the bases.”
The Sooners (9-1) will play one more doubleheader against Columbia on Saturday before traveling to play at Dallas Baptist on Tuesday.
