OU baseball skid extends to five, Texas opens series with 7-4 win

The OU baseball losing streak extended to five on Thursday night as Max Belyeu’s go-ahead three-run home run sailed through the sky into the batter’s eye in centerfield, giving the Horns a 7-4 series opening victory and clinching the Southeastern Conference regular season title. 

A tough blow for Skip Johnson’s club, who led 3-1 going into the seventh. The Horns knocked Kyson Witherspoon out of the game after 6.1 innings. Tommy Farmer delivered a game-tying two run single two batters later. 

“I thought it was really big, separating balls from strikes when we had to. Hats off to them having really good at-bats in moments they needed to. We were never able to take the momentum and run with it,” said Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson. “I thought they played their butts off all night long.” 

Texas doubled up the Sooners in the hit column 10-5. Oklahoma committed two errors that led to two runs. 

Witherspoon excellent in perhaps final home game 

As he walked off the mound on Thursday night, Oklahoma starter Kyson Witherspoon took in the scene around him. In what could be his final start at L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark, Oklahoma’s ace, gave his team everything he had in his golden right arm. 

Witherspoon exited with one out in the seventh, before the Sooners bullpen gave up the lead, having thrown 107 pitches through 6.1 innings, striking out eight and walking one. 

“I thought Kyson was really good. He got tired. Texas had some really good at bats in moments that they needed to. We never were able to take the momentum,” said Johnson. 

Earlier in the day, Witherspoon was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, given annually by the National Collegiate Writers Association to the top player in college baseball. 

Turning point in the 7th 

Trey Gambill’s third inning solo shot gave Oklahoma a 2-1 lead. Easton Carmichael delivered an RBI double in the fifth to make it 3-1. A comfortable spot for the backend of the Oklahoma bullpen, heading into the late innings, right? 

After Witherspoon exited following a leadoff double and a walk, Jamie Hitt walked pinch hitting Will Gasparino to load the bases. Johnson and the Sooners went quickly to Jason Bodin who was welcomed by a Tommy Farmer IV and a two-run, game-tying single. 

Bodin eventually worked out of the seventh inning jam, stranding the go-ahead run at third. 

After a quick half inning following the stretch, Texas opened the eighth with a Rylan Galvan single. Momentum had shifted dugouts. Kimble Schuessler followed a walk with a go-ahead RBI single through the right side of the infield, giving the Longhorns their first lead of the weekend. 

Willits big swing in the 8th 

After Easton Carmichael walked and Sam Christiansen wore a pitch, Oklahoma found itself with life in the eighth. 

Jaxon Willits, who has been struggling as of late, delivered an RBI single to tie the game 4-4. New life.

“He’s had good at bats. He’s fought through it a lot. Continue to do that. He works extremely hard. I think that’s a good sign. Him getting two big hits will give him a little more confidence going into tomorrow and Saturday,” said Johnson. 

Willits went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Texas got to Crooks in the 9th

If there’s one thing you can’t feel about on Thursday night is the fact Oklahoma had their guy on the mound in the ninth of a tie ballgame. Texas executed. 

Tommy Farmer led off the inning with a double. Ethan Mendoza reached on a Kyle Branch throwing error. Max Belyeu then delivered. Back in the lineup for the first time in nearly two months (26 games), Belyeu hammered the first pitch he saw from Crooks over the batter’s eye in centerfield. With one swing, the game went from tied up to a three-run deficit. The difference made by one of the Horns best bats. 

Skip Johnson unfazed by the ninth inning letdown. Crooks is Oklahoma’s guy. 

“I’ll give the ball to (Dylan) Crooks all day long. I don’t know where the 2-2 pitch was, whether it was a ball or strike. I know that’s all they were griping about when I went out to the mound,” said Johnson. 

What’s next? 

Now Oklahoma (32-18, 13-15) has to find a way to salvage the weekend. Having lost five consecutive games, there will be a lot of scoreboard watching over the next two days. Not much that can be done about what’s now in the rearview mirror. 

Johnson wouldn’t give in when asked about the current skid. 

“I don’t think it’s a slump. I don’t think winning and losing is not a slump. The sun is coming up tomorrow and you play with a passion you played with today. They’re going to play hard and that’s the biggest thing you can look at,” said Johnson.