Oklahoma baseball stays hot, routs Texas Southern 15-4

Following Oklahoma baseball’s monster weekend in Round Rock, it would have been easy for a lackadaisical showing when the nationally ranked Sooners returned to L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark for the start of a two-game series against Texas Southern. 

Far from. Quite the opposite actually. 

Oklahoma scored early and often in a 15-4 run-rule of Texas Southern, sending 10 to the plate in a seven-run second, highlighted by a pair of three-run bombs from Jaxon Willits and Sam Christiansen. It, of course, all began with a white-hot Kyle Branch single. 

A statement of sorts following the more emphatic weekend statement. No surprise to second-year starter Jaxon Willits, who added an RBI triple in the third. There’s still something to prove.  

“I feel like we still have stuff to prove. Offensively, we played pretty well today, but there’s probably going to still be people on Twitter and podcasts saying we’re not ready, we’re not good enough so we’re still trying to prove something everyday,” said Willits, finishing the afternoon going 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs. 

Oklahoma added four runs in the third, three in the fourth, and a run in the fifth. 

Sam Christiansen finished the day 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, a triple and a walk. 

Every Sooner starter reached base at least one time, including two-player Gavyn Jones who served as the designated hitter going 2-for-2 with an RBI single in the seven run second. 

GHOLSTON MAKES FIRST CAREER START

After waiting a week to make his debut as a starter, sophomore Jacob Gholston was wild yet effective on Tuesday. 

He walked three and hit two batters in five innings of work but was only tagged for three runs. It’s going to be something of a slow burn as the talented, right-handed pitcher gains invaluable experience. Something his head coach is well aware of. Something that Oklahoma can take advantage of during the midweek. 

“I was really proud of Jacob coming in. It was his first start. I’m sure he had a little bit of nerves but I thought he attacked the strike zone to the best of his availability today. I think he’ll grow and grow from that,” said Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson. 

Good news? Oklahoma gave its starter plenty of run support as he took the mound in the third with a 7-1 lead. 

“Every time we’ve given up some runs we’ve had long innings. For him to stay focused and do that it’s tough on a pitcher sometimes,” said Johnson. 

Look for freshman Landon Victorian to make his first career start on Wednesday.  

BRANCH CONTINUES TO SHINE 

Following a weekend that ended with freshman second baseman being named MVP of the Round Round Classic, Kyle Branch picked up right where he left off. A positive sign for Branch, who is now hitting .484 through the first two weeks of his collegiate career. 

“We knew he was a defender when we recruited him. I think a by-product of being a good offensive player is what Russell Raley has done offensively with him and he’s kept his approach,” Johnson said. “He never deviates from his approach. He tries to stay in the middle of the field. That’s a by-product of getting hits and never being too high or too low. I remember watching him play in the state championship last year. He’s played at a high level of baseball. Maybe it’s his older brother playing college baseball at a high level as well. He works extremely hard,”

The hot start leaving his middle infield mate, Willits, unfazed. 

“He’s come in like a veteran. He works everyday like a veteran,” Willits said. “I’m not sure there’s a better person to take over for a three year starter at second base.” 

NEXT UP

Oklahoma closes out the two-game midweek series on Wednesday against Texas Southern. First pitch set for 4 p.m.