Sooners sweep Texas Tech for 5th Big 12 series sweep of season
LUBBOCK, Texas — The Oklahoma Sooners baseball team recorded its fifth Big 12 series sweep of the season as they took all three games last weekend.
LUBBOCK, Texas — The Oklahoma Sooners baseball team recorded its fifth Big 12 series sweep of the season as they took all three games last weekend.
OU took Friday night’s opener 8-0, then won 7-5 on Saturday and closed the series with an 8-7 victory.
In the opener, OU starting left-handed pitcher Braden Davis (6-3) was lights out in the series opener, throwing seven scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits with two walks to go with eight strikeouts.
Senior Will Carsten entered in relief and completed OU’s fourth shutout of the season, hurling two scoreless with one strikeout. Davis and Carsten combined to allow the Red Raiders (30-20 overall, 12-15 in Big 12 play) just four hits on the night.
The shutout marked the Sooners’ fourth of the season, their most since recording five in 2019. Additionally, it was the first time Tech has been shut out in 2024 and the first time OU has blanked the Red Raiders since 2013.
On a windy night, the OU offense manufactured runs without the long ball, still registering three extra-base hits and 12 hits overall.
At the plate, John Spikerman and Jackson Nicklaus paced the Sooners (29-17, 18-6) with 3-for-4 and 3-for-5 nights, respectively, with Spikerman and Scott Mudler bringing in a pair.
In Game 2, OU collected its 17th win in Big 12 play Saturday, matching the most wins in conference play since 2009.
A complete team win powered OU to the series W, with the offense putting up seven runs on 11 hits, including two home runs. The pitching staff of starter Kyson Witherspoon and relievers Carter Campbell, Dylan Crooks and Malachi Witherspoon allowed a powerful Tech offense just five runs on seven hits, with all five runs coming in the final four innings.
Bryce Madron led OU at the plate with his seventh game of the season with three hits, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs batted in and two stolen bases. Anthony Mackenzie brought in four runs in a 2-for-5 showing. Seven Sooners recorded a base hit in the game.
In the series finale, OU’s 18 wins in conference play are the most since 2004 (19) and the Sooner sweep in Lubbock marked the first time Texas Tech has been swept on their home field since 2011. Additionally, it was OU’s first sweep over Tech since 2011 and first in Lubbock since 2006.
Sunday’s Game 3 proved to be the most competitive contest of the series, with runs in seven of the nine innings, but OU never relinquished a lead. The Sooners never trailed in all three games of the series. Sunday the OU bats continued to stay hot with 12 hits, including three home runs.
At the plate, Spikerman, Michael Snyder and Jaxon Willits all recorded threehit games to lead OU. Easton Carmichael brought in a trio, while Spikerman and Snyder batted in two each.
On the mound, OU utilized seven pitchers in the finale with reliever Carter Campbell (30) earning his third win of the season, striking out a pair in 1.1 innings of relief work.
The Big 12-leading Sooners return to action this weekend in Norman for the home regular season finale vs. Baylor (20-26, 9-15). The three-game series begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday at L. Dale Mitchell Park with Sunday’s finale serving as Senior Day.
