In the first game of the Sooners' 2024 campaign on the diamond, Skip Johnson's squad came up short in a 4-2 loss to Oregon at Globe Life Park.
Oregon got the scoring started in the first inning. Braden Davis hit the leadoff batter, and then Easton Carmichael committed a passed ball. Dominic Hellman brought a run home with an RBI single to right field. Easton Carmichael got the first hit of the season for Oklahoma with a two-out single to center, but the Sooners were held scoreless.
In the bottom of the second, Michael Snyder doubled off the left center field wall off of Oregon starter RJ Gordon. True freshman Jaxon Willits followed that up with a walk. However, both runners were stranded after a strikeout from Carter Frederick and a groundout by Jackson Nicklaus.
The Ducks continued their scoring in the top of the third. Bryce Boettcher started the inning with a single. He moved to second on a stolen base and to third on a sac fly from Jacob Walsh. Boettcher then scored on a wild pitch to stretch Oregon's lead to 2-0.
The Sooners got their scoring started in the bottom of the third. Spikerman led the inning off with a single to right. Bryce Madron moved him to third on a double to right field. Spikerman scored on a sac fly from Easton Carmichael to make the score 2-1, and Kendall Pettis followed that up with a sac fly that scored Madron to tie the game at 2.
After a tough first inning, Braden Davis really found a groove. He ended his day by striking out four straight Ducks. He started to get ahead in the count and found a feel for his changeup to keep the Oregon hitters off balance. He struck out seven hitters across five innings of work, giving up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs (1 earned).
Oregon starter RJ Gordon went 4 1/3 innings, also giving up two runs. Left-hander Grayson Grinsell came in to replace him in the bottom of the fifth.
Northwest Florida State College transfer Malachi Witherspoon entered the game for the Sooners in the top of the sixth inning. His first pitch of the appearance registered at 96 MPH. He gave up nothing in the sixth, and then worked out of a jam in the seventh inning by striking out the side. After giving up a hit and two walks to start the eighth, Witherspoon was taken out and replaced by Silo (Okla.) native Carson Atwood. After coming in with the bases loaded and no outs, Atwood forced a double play, but the Ducks scored a run to take a 3-2 lead. Oregon added another run on a wild pitch by Atwood to make the score 4-2.
Oklahoma couldn't touch Oregon reliever Grayson Grinsell. He pitched 3 innings, only gave up one base runner, and gave up zero runs. Michael Freund came in to replace him with one out in the bottom of the eighth.
Carter Campbell came in to pitch for the Sooners in the ninth and tossed a scoreless inning.
Michael Freund stayed in to face the Sooners in the bottom of the frame and retired them in order.
The Sooners face Tennessee at 7:00 PM tomorrow. Brendan Girton will get the start.
Oregon got the scoring started in the first inning. Braden Davis hit the leadoff batter, and then Easton Carmichael committed a passed ball. Dominic Hellman brought a run home with an RBI single to right field. Easton Carmichael got the first hit of the season for Oklahoma with a two-out single to center, but the Sooners were held scoreless.
In the bottom of the second, Michael Snyder doubled off the left center field wall off of Oregon starter RJ Gordon. True freshman Jaxon Willits followed that up with a walk. However, both runners were stranded after a strikeout from Carter Frederick and a groundout by Jackson Nicklaus.
The Ducks continued their scoring in the top of the third. Bryce Boettcher started the inning with a single. He moved to second on a stolen base and to third on a sac fly from Jacob Walsh. Boettcher then scored on a wild pitch to stretch Oregon's lead to 2-0.
The Sooners got their scoring started in the bottom of the third. Spikerman led the inning off with a single to right. Bryce Madron moved him to third on a double to right field. Spikerman scored on a sac fly from Easton Carmichael to make the score 2-1, and Kendall Pettis followed that up with a sac fly that scored Madron to tie the game at 2.
After a tough first inning, Braden Davis really found a groove. He ended his day by striking out four straight Ducks. He started to get ahead in the count and found a feel for his changeup to keep the Oregon hitters off balance. He struck out seven hitters across five innings of work, giving up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs (1 earned).
Oregon starter RJ Gordon went 4 1/3 innings, also giving up two runs. Left-hander Grayson Grinsell came in to replace him in the bottom of the fifth.
Northwest Florida State College transfer Malachi Witherspoon entered the game for the Sooners in the top of the sixth inning. His first pitch of the appearance registered at 96 MPH. He gave up nothing in the sixth, and then worked out of a jam in the seventh inning by striking out the side. After giving up a hit and two walks to start the eighth, Witherspoon was taken out and replaced by Silo (Okla.) native Carson Atwood. After coming in with the bases loaded and no outs, Atwood forced a double play, but the Ducks scored a run to take a 3-2 lead. Oregon added another run on a wild pitch by Atwood to make the score 4-2.
Oklahoma couldn't touch Oregon reliever Grayson Grinsell. He pitched 3 innings, only gave up one base runner, and gave up zero runs. Michael Freund came in to replace him with one out in the bottom of the eighth.
Carter Campbell came in to pitch for the Sooners in the ninth and tossed a scoreless inning.
Michael Freund stayed in to face the Sooners in the bottom of the frame and retired them in order.
The Sooners face Tennessee at 7:00 PM tomorrow. Brendan Girton will get the start.
