Scott Mudler

Junior catcher Scott Mudler during the game against Kansas State on April 14.

 Jenna Burress/OU Daily

Oklahoma (21-14, 11-4 Big 12) swept Kansas State (21-13, 7-8) in a three-game series with an 8-7 victory on Sunday in Norman.

The Sooners remained at the top of the Big 12 standings and continued their solid conference play with a 12-5 win on Friday. OU’s offensive momentum carried over into Saturday’s slate to take the series with an 11-4 win and junior catcher Scott Mudler would walk it off for the Sooners with a two-out RBI single to sweep the series.

Here are three takeaways from Oklahoma’s series sweep:

John Spikerman returns

Junior outfielder John Spikerman underwent hamate surgery after an injury during the Sooners series against TCU a month ago. Spikerman had been Oklahoma’s leadoff hitter and one of the team’s best at the plate.

After uncertainty on when he would return, Spikerman entered Sunday’s slate in the eighth inning as pinch runner for freshman Isaiah Lane. The junior’s impact was immediate, as he stole a base and scored for the Sooners on the next play on an RBI single from sophomore Rocco Garza-Gongora to give them the lead in the bottom of the eight.

Offense stays strong

After a scoreless first on Friday, Oklahoma’s offense got the bats rolling, bringing in seven two-out runs in the bottom of the second.

Redshirt senior infielder Michael Snyder got the Sooners started at the plate with a leadoff triple, bringing in the first run of the night after an RBI single from Mudler.

OU’s offense continued to bring in runs, capping off a nine-run second inning.

Oklahoma’s offensive momentum continued into Saturday night, as three different Sooners hit home runs against the Wildcats.

After taking a 6-0 lead after the fifth inning, the Wildcats bounced back with four runs in the top of the sixth to put themselves within reach. However, the Sooners tallied a five-run eighth inning, including a two RBI double from sophomore Easton Carmichael, to clinch the series.

Freshman Jaxon Willits kicked off Oklahoma’s offense on Sunday with two home runs, including a three-run homer in the bottom of the third.

The Sooners remained scoreless through the next four innings, but timely plays from Spikerman and Mudler would hand Oklahoma its third Big 12 series sweep.

Pitching staff does enough

OU’s bullpen continued to show inconsistency over the weekend, but did just enough to clinch its series against Kansas State.

Oklahoma’s pitching staff got off to a strong start as junior Braden Davis notched his third win with the Sooners Friday night, holding the Wildcats hitless through the first three innings and surrendering just one run. The left handed pitcher finished the night allowing four hits with seven strikeouts through five-plus innings pitched.

Sophomore Kyson Witherspoon started on the mound for Oklahoma on Saturday and recorded eight strikeouts of his own, surrendering four runs through five-plus innings.

Senior Carter Campbell took over for Witherspoon and held the Wildcats scoreless through the next two innings before sophomore Malachi Witherspoon headed to the mound, retiring three of the last four batters to clinch the series for the Sooners.

Oklahoma’s pitching momentum faltered Sunday afternoon, as redshirt senior Grant Stevens surrendered a two-run homer and redshirt junior Brendan Girton surrendered another two runs to give the Wildcats a four-run fifth inning.

Kansas State would tie the game in the seventh inning with another two runs off of Campbell and repeat the same feat in the top of the ninth with a home run off of senior Carson Atwood, but junior Ryan Lambert was able to close out the game for the series sweep.

Next, Oklahoma (21-14, 11-4 Big 12) continues conference play against BYU (14-17, 6-12) at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Miller Park in Provo on ESPN+.

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