Norman, OK - The Oklahoma Sooners suffered a tough sweep at the hands of the LSU Tigers this weekend at L Dale Mitchell Park, with Saturday’s Game 3 ending in a nail-biting 3-2 defeat. Despite a late rally in the ninth inning that had Sooner fans dreaming of some signature Sooner Magic, Oklahoma couldn’t overcome a stagnant offense and a few costly defensive miscues, dropping the series finale to the visiting Tigers.
Oklahoma’s Malachi Witherspoon took the mound to start the game, delivering a solid outing despite the loss. The right-hander went six innings, allowing three runs (only one earned) on three walks while striking out four. LSU managed to tag him for all their scoring in the early innings, but Witherspoon settled in to keep the Tigers at bay through the middle frames. Reliever Gavyn Jones provided a spark out of the bullpen, entering in the seventh and tossing 2.1 scoreless innings to give the Sooners a fighting chance. However, Oklahoma’s bats—quiet all weekend—couldn’t muster enough support to turn the tide.
After a scoreless first, LSU broke through in the top of the second. Derek Curiel’s grounder to second baseman Kyle Branch was mishandled, allowing Tanner Reaves and Chris Stanfield to cross the plate and give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Oklahoma responded in the bottom half, loading the bases with Jaxon Willits scoring on a wild pitch from LSU’s Chase Shores. But the rally fizzled as Dasan Harris struck out, stranding runners and leaving the Sooners trailing 2-1 after two.
The third inning offered hope for Oklahoma, with Willits and Trey Gambill reaching base, but once again, the Sooners failed to capitalize, a recurring theme that plagued them throughout the series.
LSU threatened to blow the game open in the fourth. Luis Hernandez ripped a double and advanced to third, but a sharp relay from Kyle Branch to catcher Easton Carmichael caught him at the plate. The momentum was short-lived, however. On the next play, Curiel singled to left, and Chris Stanfield raced home from first. Dawson Willis fired to Carmichael, but the catcher dropped the ball on the tag attempt, allowing Stanfield to score and push LSU’s lead to 3-1.
Oklahoma’s defense shone again in the eighth when Steven Milam’s potential triple was erased by a heads-up play. Milam overslid third on the wet turf, and Dawson Willis applied the tag for a crucial out—a rare moment where the Sooners’ fullturf field provided a true home-field edge.
Trailing 3-1 entering the ninth, Oklahoma mounted a desperate comeback. Pinch-hitter Brayden Horton singled on an error by LSU’s third baseman, and Dasan Harris followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Horton to cut the deficit to 3-2. Jason Walk drew a walk, putting the tying run on base with two outs. The stage was set for Trey Gambill, but his fly ball to center was tracked down, ending the game and sealing LSU’s sweep.
Looking Ahead
The loss drops Oklahoma to a rough patch in their season, with their offensive struggles now glaringly apparent. Up next, the Sooners face DBU on Tuesday, April 8, in a chance for redemption. The last meeting between these teams on March 4 in Dallas ended in a run-rule defeat for Oklahoma, adding extra motivation to turn things around on home turf.
For now, Sooner fans are left wondering when their team’s bats will wake up—and if the magic they’ve come to expect can make a timely return.
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