Oklahoma baseball continues surge in polls, returns to The Dale

Ahead of Oklahoma’s trip to Columbia to face South Carolina, one of the few questions that remained of Skip Johnson’s club was going to be how they responded in the environment(s) of the vaunted Southeastern Conference. 

When it came to Oklahoma’s magical 2022 run, one of the big separators was the team’s ability to deliver in the biggest moments. Clutch hits. Clutch outs. It didn’t matter. On the grandest stage, they had a knack for elevating their play. Perhaps a characteristic of most teams that end their season in Omaha. 

“I think it’s all the stuff we talk about. The process instead of being results-driven. Trying to be in the process even though they are going to be result-driven a little bit. That’s the biggest thing is how you maintain it and go about. Just try to stay in the process as much as you can,” said Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson prior to the Sooners weekend trip. “They have so many different resources to look at.

“You almost want to tell them to get off that stuff (social media), don’t look at any of that stuff but it’s something we’re going to live on a daily basis the rest of their lives. I think that’s the biggest thing is to understand you have to stay in the moment and be present in that moment and take it one pitch at a time. Something we talk about on a daily basis.” 

There’s, of course, going to be (much) bigger stages than last week’s trip to Columbia but it was a good start to the marathon that is the 30-game league schedule. 

As a result of Sunday’s extra-inning come-from-behind win and series victory, Oklahoma is one of six SEC teams amongst the Top 10 nationally. This week? The Sooners check in at No. 10 in the D1Baseball.com Top 25, No. 8 for Perfect Game and No. 9 with Baseball America.

Consider the Sooners to have passed their first big test with many, many more to come. 

SOONERS RALLY TO WIN SERIES 

Down to its final out in the ninth inning, Oklahoma rallied for two in the ninth to force extras. Jason Walk delivered the biggest swing of the weekend one inning later, sending an opposite field home run into the Sooners bullpen in left that gave the Sooners the lead for good.

Dylan Crooks continued a superb start to the season locking down the backend, throwing the final three innings and earning the win.  

Easton Carmichael’s two-out, two-run double tied the game in the seventh and served as a launching pad for Oklahoma’s comeback.

But only after South Carolina pulled ahead in the bottom half on a wild pitch. They then added an insurance run one inning later when Crooks plunked Gamecock All-American candidate Ethan Petry with the bases loaded.

Oklahoma took advantage of the opportunity handed to them by South Carolina’s defense in the ninth. Dayton Tockey reached on an error that allowed Sam Christiansen to score, cutting the deficit to a run. Leading to Kyle Branch – who else?– game-tying infield single. Oklahoma scored a combined four runs in the seventh and ninth with two outs. 

Cade Crossland threw 4.2 innings Sunday in relief of starter Cam Johnson who lasted just two batters before exiting the game in the first.

For Crossland, it’s another step in possibly joining the weekend rotation for good. He allowed just four hits and two unearned runs, walking two and striking out four. For Johnson, while startling to see him exit after nine pitches, it might have been more due to feeling under the weather as Johnson explained during Sunday’s postgame. 

News & Notes 

* Left fielder Trey Gambill is day-to-day after leaving Saturday’s game with a hamstring injury. The good news? There’s hardly ever any ‘good news’ when talking about an injury, but it is believed Gambill won’t be on the shelf for long. Getting the junior back is priority after he had produced a blistering start at the plate where he was slashing .360/.542/.460. 

* The offensive numbers were encouraging coming out of South Carolina. Oklahoma scored 19 runs over the weekend, highlighted with five home runs, including a Friday night power surge from the bottom of the line up with Dayton Tockey, Dawson Willis and Dasan Harris all leaving the ballpark. Most encouraging? Oklahoma continues to take its free passes. The Sooners have drawn 110 walks through 19 games which ranks them Top 20 nationally. 

BACK AT THE DALE

Oklahoma returns to L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark this week for a midweek game against UT-Arlington on Tuesday. The Sooners and Mavericks first match-up of the year was postponed due to inclement weather in DFW. This weekend Oklahoma welcomes Mississippi State to the Dale, marking the first home series in conference play. A history maker of sorts.

The Bulldogs head to Norman after being swept by Texas over the weekend in Starkville.