LEXINGTON, KY – The Oklahoma Sooners dropped a heartbreaker in game one of their weekend series against the Kentucky Wildcats, falling 4-3 in a tightly contested battle at Kentucky Proud Park. In a game that hinted at a potential slugfest early on, both offenses went quiet after a lively third inning, leaving Oklahoma fans frustrated as their team remains on the cusp of breaking through in the SEC race.
Kyson Witherspoon took the mound for the Sooners but didn’t have his sharpest outing. The right-hander labored through five innings, allowing 6 hits, 4 earned runs, and 2 walks while striking out 4. Witherspoon struggled to find his rhythm early, particularly in the third inning, but showed resilience by locking in during the fourth and fifth to keep the game within reach.
The Sooners struck first in the top of the third when Easton Carmichael launched a 2-run homer to right center, giving Oklahoma an early 2-0 lead. Carmichael’s blast seemed to signal an offensive breakout, but Kentucky quickly answered in the bottom half.
Tyler Bell’s apparent homer was ruled a triple after hitting the top of the wall, and Luke Lawrence followed with a double to score Bell. Cole Hage then crushed a 2-run homer to right center, flipping the game in Kentucky’s favor. James McCoy added an RBI single to score Cole Hansen, though he was thrown out at second to end the inning. Kentucky’s 4-run outburst put them ahead 4-2 after three.
Oklahoma clawed back in the fifth when Carmichael singled and scored on Kyle Branch’s single to left, narrowing the gap to 4-3. Carmichael’s aggressive base running sparked the rally, but the Sooners’ bats couldn’t sustain the momentum.
In the ninth, trailing by one, Dasan Harris drew a leadoff walk as a pinch hitter, and Jason Walk’s groundout moved him to second. Trey Gambill walked to keep the pressure on, but Carmichael and Jaxon Willits struck out swinging to end the game, sealing Kentucky’s 4-3 victory.
Easton Carmichael was the offensive heartbeat for Oklahoma, accounting for all three runs. His 2-run homer in the third and fifth-inning single kept the Sooners in the game, though his final two strikeouts underscored the team’s quiet night at the plate. Carmichael’s performance was a lone bright spot for an offense that struggled to string hits together against Kentucky’s pitching.
What’s Next?
The loss stings for Oklahoma, who are fighting for a top spot in the SEC and a chance to host a regional in the postseason. With game two set for Saturday at 11:30 am CST in Lexington, the Sooners need to shake off this setback and ignite their stagnant offense to keep their series hopes alive. A win could set the stage for a pivotal game three, but Oklahoma must find consistency at the plate to match Kentucky’s intensity.
Can the Sooners bounce back and reclaim their momentum? Game two will tell the tale.
Kyson Witherspoon took the mound for the Sooners but didn’t have his sharpest outing. The right-hander labored through five innings, allowing 6 hits, 4 earned runs, and 2 walks while striking out 4. Witherspoon struggled to find his rhythm early, particularly in the third inning, but showed resilience by locking in during the fourth and fifth to keep the game within reach.
The Sooners struck first in the top of the third when Easton Carmichael launched a 2-run homer to right center, giving Oklahoma an early 2-0 lead. Carmichael’s blast seemed to signal an offensive breakout, but Kentucky quickly answered in the bottom half.
Tyler Bell’s apparent homer was ruled a triple after hitting the top of the wall, and Luke Lawrence followed with a double to score Bell. Cole Hage then crushed a 2-run homer to right center, flipping the game in Kentucky’s favor. James McCoy added an RBI single to score Cole Hansen, though he was thrown out at second to end the inning. Kentucky’s 4-run outburst put them ahead 4-2 after three.
Oklahoma clawed back in the fifth when Carmichael singled and scored on Kyle Branch’s single to left, narrowing the gap to 4-3. Carmichael’s aggressive base running sparked the rally, but the Sooners’ bats couldn’t sustain the momentum.
In the ninth, trailing by one, Dasan Harris drew a leadoff walk as a pinch hitter, and Jason Walk’s groundout moved him to second. Trey Gambill walked to keep the pressure on, but Carmichael and Jaxon Willits struck out swinging to end the game, sealing Kentucky’s 4-3 victory.
Easton Carmichael was the offensive heartbeat for Oklahoma, accounting for all three runs. His 2-run homer in the third and fifth-inning single kept the Sooners in the game, though his final two strikeouts underscored the team’s quiet night at the plate. Carmichael’s performance was a lone bright spot for an offense that struggled to string hits together against Kentucky’s pitching.
What’s Next?
The loss stings for Oklahoma, who are fighting for a top spot in the SEC and a chance to host a regional in the postseason. With game two set for Saturday at 11:30 am CST in Lexington, the Sooners need to shake off this setback and ignite their stagnant offense to keep their series hopes alive. A win could set the stage for a pivotal game three, but Oklahoma must find consistency at the plate to match Kentucky’s intensity.
Can the Sooners bounce back and reclaim their momentum? Game two will tell the tale.
