No reminder needed for Oklahoma baseball

I know it. You know it. They know it. 

When Oklahoma baseball opens a three-game series in Columbia on Thursday night at Taylor Field, it’s not just expected of Skip Johnson’s club to win an SEC weekend series but rather sweep winless Missouri. 

In the world of college baseball, of course, it’s easier said than done. But that doesn’t stop Johnson and his Sooners from hearing it. 

“There’s no doubt about that. Eight times since we left yesterday somebody has mentioned, ‘hey Missouri … you’ve got to win. They’re 0-15. You’ve gotta win’,” said Johnson. “But I’m telling you right now. In the SEC, I don’t think I’ve ever woken up in the morning and didn’t try to win. In 35 years of coaching, I don’t think I’ve done it. So it’s important. We know that. You’ve got to take it one pitch at a time. And that’s the only thing you can control.” 

The reality is Kerrick Johnson’s Tigers (13-23, 0-15) are at the bottom of the conference standings.

Every win is important, but particularly for Oklahoma who enter the final five weekends of the regular season still vying for a regional host and perhaps a bye or double-bye (longshot) in Hoover, Ala., at the SEC Tournament (May 20-25). 

Road dogs 

Beginning this week, Oklahoma will become quite familiar with life away from the friendly confines of L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark, playing seven of its next nine games on the road. 

Fast starts aren’t required, but they might come as recommended. Oklahoma is 14-1 this season when scoring in the first inning. And they did just that last time out on Tuesday in Stillwater, scoring a season-high five runs in the first.

“Just like anything else it gets contagious. Hitting is contagious. When they have that kind of confidence everything gets rolling. They start separating balls from strikes and having quality at bats. What’s amazing about that deal is just trying to put pressure on. Then on the other side of it the guy is trying to pitch out of it. Trying to give up no runs and you give up four or five,” said Johnson. 

A big part of Oklahoma’s recent offensive surge has started at the top with Trey Gambill. The junior left fielder leads the team in average (.337) and on-base percentage (.512), moving into the leadoff spot in two of the Sooners last four games. 

“I think it’s a little maturity. He understands his gameplan. He sticks by his gameplan. And he works extremely hard at it too. It pays off. In this game you can take thousands and thousands of ground balls, or fly balls and hit a lot and you don’t ever see the fruits. But he has. He believes in himself. He has a lot of self confidence too,” said Johnson. 

Kyson and who? 

Oklahoma will give the ball to Cade Crossland on Thursday night in the series opener. The junior left-hander enters the weekend coming off his best start of the season last weekend against Vanderbilt, going 5.2 innings, allowing five hits with a season-high eight strikeouts, adding a slider to his pitching arsenal. 

“Well, No. 1? It tells you about his aptitude that he can do something like that. The other thing is he had confidence in it. He had the guts to do it,” Johnson said. “A lot of times people won’t try to do something different. I think if he gives us his best version of himself, then we’ll have a chance. 

“That’s the biggest thing. Try to win pitches. If he tries to win pitches and throw the ball to the target then he’ll be fine.” 

Reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week Kyson Witherspoon is slated for Friday and twin brother Malachi Witherspoon is scheduled for Saturday’s series finale. 

Weekend Schedule 

With rain in the forecast for this weekend in Columbia, Oklahoma and Missouri will play a double-header to close the series on Friday starting at noon. Thursday’s series opener will be played as schedule starting at 7p on Thursday.

Thursday 7 p.m. (SECN+): LHP Cade Crossland (2-2, 6.17 ERA, 35 IP, 17 BB, 43 SO) vs. LHP Brady Kehlenbrink (0-3, 11.12 ERA, 17 IP, 12 BB, 22 SO)

Friday (DH Game 1 – Noon) (SECN+): RHP Kyson Witherspoon (6-2, 2.08 ERA, 52 IP, 11 BB, 74 SO) vs. Kaden Jaobi (2-5, 9.17 ERA, 34.1 IP, 18 BB, 36 SO) 

Friday (DH Game 2) (SECN+): Malachi Witherspoon (2-4, 5.74 ERA, 42.1 IP, 20 BB, 48 SO) vs. TBA