Oklahoma Sooners-Texas Southern Tigers baseball

Freshman infielder Kyle Branch during the game against Texas Southern University on Feb. 25.

 Sutton Spinner/OU Daily

Oklahoma (8-0) swept a two-game series against Texas Southern (1-8) 15-4 and 5-4 at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

OU’s bullpen was tested in the second game after not allowing a run through the first seven innings of both games, where they allowed four runs across the final two innings. OU was able to outhit the Tigers 24-19.

Here are three takeaways from the Sooners’ win:

Gholston makes first career start

Sophomore right-hander Jacob Gholston made his first career start on Tuesday. Gholston was originally supposed to start on Feb. 19 against UT Arlington, but the game was postponed.

In front of 2,282 on Tuesday, Gholston delivered five innings and picked up his first career win. He gave up six hits, four runs, three walks and struck out three batters. Gholston threw 79 pitches and 46 of them for strikes.

He found himself allowing a baserunner in every inning, but was able to limit the damage by inducing eight groundouts and two double plays.

“I thought he attacked the strike zone to the best of his ability,” head coach Skip Johnson said after Tuesday’s game. “I think he’ll grow and grow from that.”

Two-out runs

When Texas Southern scored the first run in the top of the second inning on Tuesday, the Sooners regrouped and responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning – six coming with two outs.

With the game tied at one, sophomore shortstop Jaxon Willits blasted a three-run homer to the opposite field to give OU a lead it would never give up. Three batters later, redshirt sophomore infielder/outfielder Sam Christiansen added another three-run home run.

Of the Sooners’ 20 runs scored in the series, 10 of them came with two outs. Oklahoma was also able to take the extra base when needed, and put the Tiger pitchers in difficult situations. OU was able to draw eight walks compared to two strikeouts, while stealing three bases in the win Tuesday.

“I think that’s the mantra of this team, is to play with passion,” Johnson said. “I think that’s the byproduct of playing hard, is winning.”

Freshmen pitchers step up

On Wednesday, Johnson sent out freshman right-hander Landon Victorian to start his collegiate debut against Texas Southern. Victorian only went two innings, but did not give up a run in his 38 pitches of work.

Freshman right-hander Michael Catalano continued his strong start to the season on Wednesday – only giving up one hit in two innings out of the bullpen and striking out four Tigers. Catalano has still not given up a run in 6.2 innings of work out of the bullpen this season and has struck out 12 batters.

While freshman left-hander Jaden Barfield gave up a run in the top of the ninth, he stopped Texas Southern’s three-run rally in the eighth with an inning-ending strikeout.

Next, the Sooners host CSUN (2-4) for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 4 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

This story was edited by Hannah Bryant.

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