Columbia, S.C. – March 15, 2025 – The No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners (16-2, 1-1 SEC) couldn’t maintain their early momentum, dropping an 11-5 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks (16-4, 1-1 SEC) on Saturday afternoon at Founders Park. The loss evens the three-game series at one apiece after Oklahoma’s 8-5 victory in the opener on Friday night.
The Sooners struck first in the top of the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead. Kyle Branch worked a leadoff walk, and Scott Mudler delivered an RBI double to right field to put Oklahoma on the board. However, South Carolina quickly responded in the bottom half, tying the game at 1-1 against OU starter Malachi Witherspoon.
Oklahoma regained the lead in the third when Willits came through, this time with a 2-run homer. The 3-1 edge was short-lived, as the Gamecocks answered with a run in their half of the third and then another 3 runs in the fourth inning to make it 5-3. Witherspoon, the junior right-hander, lasted four innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
The turning point came in the fifth inning, when South Carolina erupted for four runs against a trio of Sooner relievers—Malachi Witherspoon, Michael Catalano, and Gavyn Jones. South Carolina’s offense was relentless, capitalizing on OU’s pitching struggles to push the lead to 9-4.
The Sooners managed one more run in the eighth when Mudler scored on a wild pitch, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. South Carolina tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth to seal the 11-5 final score. Willits was a bright spot for Oklahoma, finishing 3-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. However, the Sooners’ typically stout pitching staff faltered, allowing 11 runs on 14 hits and issuing seven walks.
For South Carolina, the win showcased their offensive firepower and resilience after dropping Friday’s game. The Gamecocks’ lineup pounded out double-digit runs to kick off the young SEC season, setting the stage for an exciting rubber match on Sunday.
Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson, in his eighth season at the helm, will look to regroup his squad after the lopsided defeat. The Sooners entered the series ranked among the top 15 teams nationally and boasting a 16-1 record, but Saturday’s performance exposed vulnerabilities that South Carolina exploited.
The series finale is set for Sunday, March 16, at 12:30 p.m. CDT, with Oklahoma aiming to reclaim the edge in their inaugural SEC road trip. For now, the Sooners will need to shake off this loss and refocus to avoid dropping their first series of 2025.
The Sooners struck first in the top of the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead. Kyle Branch worked a leadoff walk, and Scott Mudler delivered an RBI double to right field to put Oklahoma on the board. However, South Carolina quickly responded in the bottom half, tying the game at 1-1 against OU starter Malachi Witherspoon.
Oklahoma regained the lead in the third when Willits came through, this time with a 2-run homer. The 3-1 edge was short-lived, as the Gamecocks answered with a run in their half of the third and then another 3 runs in the fourth inning to make it 5-3. Witherspoon, the junior right-hander, lasted four innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
The turning point came in the fifth inning, when South Carolina erupted for four runs against a trio of Sooner relievers—Malachi Witherspoon, Michael Catalano, and Gavyn Jones. South Carolina’s offense was relentless, capitalizing on OU’s pitching struggles to push the lead to 9-4.
The Sooners managed one more run in the eighth when Mudler scored on a wild pitch, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback. South Carolina tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth to seal the 11-5 final score. Willits was a bright spot for Oklahoma, finishing 3-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. However, the Sooners’ typically stout pitching staff faltered, allowing 11 runs on 14 hits and issuing seven walks.
For South Carolina, the win showcased their offensive firepower and resilience after dropping Friday’s game. The Gamecocks’ lineup pounded out double-digit runs to kick off the young SEC season, setting the stage for an exciting rubber match on Sunday.
Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson, in his eighth season at the helm, will look to regroup his squad after the lopsided defeat. The Sooners entered the series ranked among the top 15 teams nationally and boasting a 16-1 record, but Saturday’s performance exposed vulnerabilities that South Carolina exploited.
The series finale is set for Sunday, March 16, at 12:30 p.m. CDT, with Oklahoma aiming to reclaim the edge in their inaugural SEC road trip. For now, the Sooners will need to shake off this loss and refocus to avoid dropping their first series of 2025.
