Sooners, Tigers ready for Top-10 Baseball Showdown

In a sense Sooners baseball knew what they signed up for. And well … it’s finally here. 

Oklahoma opens a three game series Thursday night against No. 7 LSU, in front of a national audience on ESPN2, marking the first top-10 series at L. Dale Mitchell Park since hosting Texas in 2010. 

To say it’s a large weekend at the friendly confines would be an understatement. Inside the program, you’ll get the company line: It’s just another opportunity. Outside the program? It’s going to be seen as something of a measuring stick among one of the nation’s best offenses. 

“They’re really good. There’s no doubt about that. It’s going to be a great opportunity for us. I like the opportunity for our kids. We’ll see what happens,” said Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson on Thursday during his weekly appearance on The Franchise Morning Show. “Just line up and play. Ninety feet, 60.6 inches. Driving the ball to the target. You can’t control what happens. Just throw it to the target. That’s the biggest thing.” 

STRENGTH VS. STRENGTH 

Off to its best start since 2013, LSU ranks first or second in the conference in team batting average (.337), doubles (73), hits (333), runs (301) and on-base percentage (.456). 

Oklahoma ace Kyson Witherspoon will get the first shot at the Tigers lineup in the opener Thursday. 

Make no mistake about it. Even with the Tigers offense in mind – Oklahoma needs Kyson to be Kyson. 

“I think his preparation is really good. I enjoy watching his preparation as much as I like watching him in a game,” Johnson said. “He works extremely hard at it. If he just trusts his preparation and he’s himself, that’s all we can ask. We can’t say, ‘hey man can you go out tonight and be Dave Stewart or Nolan Ryan or Greg Maddux?’ It doesn’t happen. He’s Kyson Witherspoon and that is good enough. Throw the ball to the target. Compete. And if they lean over the plate, knock ‘em down.” 

So far – and this may be a bit of a shocker, hashtag sarcasm– Kyson being Kyson has gone quite well. 

On Wednesday, the junior right-hander was named D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game’s Midseason Pitcher of the Year, posting a 5-1 record for Oklahoma over 39 innings and 64 strikeouts. He ranks fifth nationally in strikeouts and second in the SEC. 

Witherspoon was also named to the Midseason Golden Spikes watch list on Thursday, awarded annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. 

LOST IN THE MIX 

You have to take the good with the bad. But perhaps a silver lining in struggles outside of Kyson Witherspoon in the weekend rotation has been an emergence of arms that have delivered in high-leverage spots out of the bullpen. 

Look no further than Tuesday night’s 8-6 win over Texas Tech. 

After Cam Johnson wasn’t able to get out of the first inning – again– it was a host of six different relievers that got Oklahoma across the finish line. Jaden Barfield threw 1.2 innings leading to two from Michael Catalano. Beau Sampson faced four batters over the course of an inning of work leading to Reid Hensley (0.2 innings) and Gavyn Jones for 1.1 innings. Jackson Kircher bridged an inning of work to Dylan Crooks in the ninth. 

Young arms delivering in big moments. A peak into the future. 

But it all starts with Crooks on the backend. He currently leads the country with nine saves on the season. But it’s his leadership and maturity that Skip Johnson believes has filtered down to the younger arms that have been called upon out of the Sooners bullpen. 

“As much as anything, I think it’s his pride and his ownership of OU baseball. It kind of rejuvenates our team to see that. It pours out onto them. And plus he’s good. He attacks the strike zone and isn’t afraid of the outcome,” Johnson said. “He flushes (the bad). His leadership has been really good.

“That’s the biggest thing is building those guys up and teaching those guys the culture. Helping them understand that culture. So then they can give it to the next guy. That’s what I get excited about as much as anything. Really, as a coach, you’re just a bus driver looking for guys that are going to get on the bus with the right attitude with you. 

“I think that’s what Dylan Crooks has helped with as much as anything is he has helped all of those guys. He’s made those guys accountable by how he’s gone about his business. And that’s what is great.” 

Oklahoma’s bullpen will be a key to winning a series once again this weekend. They are currently posting a 144-to-54 strikeout to walk ratio. 

CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES 

It’s no secret. The weather is going to play a factor into this weekend’s schedule. At the time of this posting, we’re still scheduled for a Thursday, Friday and Saturday weekend. But as anyone that has lived in this great state knows … just wait … the weather will be changing or in this case may be staying the same. Not great! 

“You really can’t control it, number one. No. 2, you’re always thankful for the rain because we need it. No. 3, it is just a baseball game. We’d love to play it. We’re lucky we have artificial turf. It can rain a lot and the field is going to take it. But if it’s not raining at game time and no threat of bad storms with hail, lightning and tornadoes. You got everything in Oklahoma. It’s going to snow in the panhandle, are you kidding me?” laughed Johnson on Thursday morning. 

Best piece of advice if you’re heading down to Norman this weekend? Beside grabbing your Medieval garb for the annual people watching festival that is the Norman Medieval Fair, stay connected on social media or the Crimson Corner. We’ll keep you posted on the latest adjustments to the schedule. 

NEWS & NOTES 

* Catcher Scott Mudler is listed as out for this weekend after dislocating his shoulder two weeks ago against Mississippi State. Johnson said Mudler hit off a tee Wednesday and started throwing at 30 feet. Will be something to monitor in the coming weeks. 

* Outfielder Trey Gambill is listed as questionable for this weekend’s series after leaving the Sunday finale at Alabama after reaggravating a hamstring injury. The good news? If there’s any good news at all to come from an injury to a starter is the fact Dasan Harris heads into the weekend following a three-hit effort Tuesday night in Frisco.