Bedlam Beatdown at O'Brate, Oklahoma takes down OSU

In a matter of 15 minutes on Tuesday night, the Oklahoma football program picked up two key portal additions in Stanford interior offensive lineman Jake Maikkula and Cal star running back Jadyn Ott.

Meanwhile up the road in Stillwater, Skip Johnson’s baseball team opened the lone Bedlam baseball installment with its best first inning of the year, scoring five times in the first and five more in the eighth en route to an 11-1 run-rule (8 innings) victory at O’Brate Stadium. It is the first Bedlam run-rule victory for Oklahoma against its Bedlam rival since the 2006 Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City. OU won that game 21-6. 

Synergy. I think that’s the word. The Sooners men’s athletics version. At its finest. Or something like that. Try it on. Fits well. 

From the jump

Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson was none too pleased with his team’s effort on Sunday in a 13-2 getaway day run-rule loss to Vanderbilt. While the Sooners won the series, sweep opportunities are valuable in conference play. It’s what last season’s team did so well. Step on the throat, ya know? 

That message must have resonated throughout the Oklahoma locker room. 

Fast forward to Tuesday night and the Cowboy faithful hadn’t even settled into their seats before Oklahoma started scoring runs. 

Trey Gambill and Jaxon Willits opened the game with back-to-back base hits. Easton Carmichael reached on the first of two first-inning Cowboy errors. Sam Christiansen followed with a two-run single to extend the OU lead to 3-0. Kyle Branch with an RBI single to left. In total, Oklahoma sent 11 to the plate and scored five before freshman Jaden Barfield had even thrown a pitch. 

“Starting the way Trey (Gambill) did with a big at bat and leading off the first, getting some momentum on our side and when you have the momentum a lot of good things happen. Balls start flying in holes that wouldn’t have on Sunday and when you have momentum good things happen,” said Sooners shortstop Jaxon Willits.

Oklahoma improved to 21-3 on the season when drawing five or more walks in a game. They walked seven times Tuesday night. 

“When the offense does that it makes pitching better. We were going to use a lot of guys tonight. Wanted to get (Dylan) Crooks in there. Hadn’t pitched in ten days but when the offense is rolling like that, separating balls from strikes? It’s a good sign for us,” said Johnson. 

Walk provides exclamation point in the 8th 

With the bases loaded and OU up 7-1 in the top of the eighth, Jason Walk hammered a 3-1 offering over the left field wall. Exclamation point added, indeed.

On a night when the Sooners lineup collected hits up and down the line up, the sophomore centerfielder lone hit provided a big exclamation point in the Beldam beatdown. It was Walk’s sixth home run of the season and first career grand slam. 

The Sooners also stole seven bases. A trend on the base paths that may be something to watch as the season moves forward. They stole six last Friday against Vanderbilt.

Sooners pitching staff was marvelous 

Jaden Barfield’s night was a bit more comfortable than he expected when he toed the rubber with a five-run lead. He threw two innings and didn’t allow a hit, ending the first and second frames with punch outs. 

Reid Hensley pitched two innings with the lone blemish of the night coming on a solo shot that started the fourth, giving way to Jamie Hitt who continued to throw like a man on a mission. Or should we say redemption. It was in this very ballpark a year ago where, for a lack of better terms … ‘it’ hit the fan. 

Hitt worked three innings of scoreless relief, making his team-leading 16th appearance on the season, walking one and striking out another. A year of redemption for the senior lefty after well-documented struggles out of the bullpen a year ago. 

This is the version of Jamie Hitt, Skip Johnson and Oklahoma fans have been waiting for. 

“There’s no doubt. His first year he was really good for us when he was starting. Then the next year we got him back to the bullpen. For him to not sign and come back? It just means he cares a lot about what he does. I really appreciate that,” said Johnson. 

Oklahoma State’s four hits is tied for the fewest in a game this season. 

Means more to the lone Oklahoman 

I was shocked to have it pointed out after the game, Jaxon Willits is the lone native Oklahoman on the Sooners roster.

It makes no difference if you grow up in Guymon or Idabel or Miami or Lawton – Bedlam is meaningful. It’s no different to Willits who grew up in Fort Cobb. 

And, perhaps this time around maybe, even moreso with the instate rivalry being played just once this season on the diamond. 

“One hundred percent it does. The way we lost the series to them last year and lost the Big 12 (Tournament) Championship to them last year. And them being OSU and me being from Oklahoma, it definitely means a little more to me than probably I’d say 90 percent of the locker room. I’ve grown up wanting to play in this game and play on this field. I’ve just got to thank the good Lord for putting me in this situation and do good things,” said Willits. 

He finished 2-for-4 on the night, driving in a run in the Sooners five-run 8th. 

Next up

Oklahoma (26-10 overall, 7-8 SEC) head to Columbia, Missouri for a three-game series versus Missouri, starting on Thursday. First pitch set for 7 p.m.