No. 17 Oklahoma (14-9, 7-2 Big 12) fell 9-5 and 8-3 in a doubleheader against West Virginia (14-10, 4-2) at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman on Saturday, losing the series 2-1.
Saturday’s slate marked OU’s second conference doubleheader this season, as severe weather pushed Sunday’s game to Saturday evening. However, the Sooners were unable to maintain their momentum from Friday night’s no-hitter. The Mountaineers handed OU its first conference losses of the season.
Here are three takeaways from OU’s losses:
Sooner pitching staff unable to carry momentum
After Friday night’s no-hitter by juniors Braden Davis and Reid Hensley, Oklahoma’s bullpen was unable to keep up the pace, surrendering 21 combined hits on Saturday.
Redshirt junior Brendan Girton started on the mound in the first game of Saturday’s slate and notched a quick 1-2-3 start. But West Virginia’s offense bounced back from its loss Friday night, scoring on a wild pitch in the second inning, giving the team its first run of the weekend.
The Mountaineers continued to score off OU pitchers, recording at least one run in four straight innings after a scoreless third —including a home run off a pitch from senior Jett Lodes.
OU’s pitching woes carried into Saturday evening, as West Virginia notched four home runs against senior Jamie Hitt to start the game. Hitt allowed five hits and six runs with just one strikeout before he exited in the top of the second.
Sophomore Kyson Witherspoon headed to the mound for Oklahoma to try and prevent any further damage, and held West Virginia scoreless through seven-plus innings with 11 strikeouts, two walks and just one hit.
However, a two-run homer from the Mountaineers, after sophomore Malachi Witherspoon took over on the mound in the ninth inning, would be enough for them to take the series against the Sooners.
Tables turned for OU's offense
Oklahoma relied on just two arms to shut out West Virginia Friday night, but tables quickly turned on Saturday.
West Virginia used only one pitcher to stop OU at the plate during the first game.
Sophomore designated hitter Easton Carmichael gave the Sooners their first run of the day after a West Virginia error in the first inning and was able to follow up with an RBI in the third that plated senior Bryce Madron.
However, Oklahoma’s offense was unable to maintain the momentum at the plate.
The Sooners managed to rally, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but were unable to overcome their deficit, as West Virginia pitcher Derek Clark recorded seven punch outs.
Carmichael also tried to get OU going in the second game with a sacrifice fly that plated junior Scott Mudler, followed by an RBI single from redshirt senior Michael Snyder that brought freshman Jason Walk home.
Trending 🆙Two on the board courtesy SF from Carmichael and 1B from @_michaelsnyder_ E3 | WVU 6, OU 2 // 📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/oFV7XF0WJn
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 24, 2024
But another early deficit would be too much for the Sooners offense to overcome, and they would remain scoreless through the next three innings as the Mountaineers pitching staff allowed just eight combined runs on Saturday.
“When you go down five nothing in the first inning it gets tough,” OU head coach Skip Johnson said postgame. “It gets tough on the offense because they’re trying to get five runs back really quick instead of just chipping away and having quality at-bats.”
Picked off and stranded
Oklahoma’s offense had nowhere to go, as West Virginia’s defense picked off three different Sooners at first base on Saturday afternoon.
Oklahoma continued to get good looks but could not convert.
Carmichael singled to first base, and Mudler and Walk drew a pair of walks, but the Mountaineers were able to prevent the three from advancing.
After West Virginia brought home six runs in the first two innings, the Sooners managed to bring in two of their own Saturday night. Junior Jackson Nicklaus headed to the plate for the Sooners with bases loaded, but his hit was just short of a potential game-tying home run, stranding three Sooners on base.
Oklahoma finished their doubleheader with 12 left on base and went 6 for 13 with runners in scoring position.
“It’s a game of adjustments,” Johnson said. “We didn’t adjust as much as we did yesterday… one day you’re on top of the world. You throw a no hitter and score 13 runs. Then the very next day it’s fighting against your confidence.”
Oklahoma (14-9) will look to bounce back against Oral Roberts (9-14) at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman on ESPN+.
This story was edited by Gracie Rawlings.Â
