COLUMBIA, MO — The No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners (29-10, 10-8 SEC) showcased their offensive prowess, sweeping the Missouri Tigers (13-26, 0-18 SEC) in a three-game series on their home turf. The Sooners’ first SEC series sweep of the season was a statement of their scoring ability, as they amassed an astonishing 46 runs across the series, enforcing the run rule in all three games.
The series finale was a masterclass in offensive firepower and solid pitching, with Oklahoma securing a 12-1 run-rule victory in seven innings. Junior right-handed pitcher Malachi Witherspoon delivered one of his best outings of the season, throwing 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 8 Ks. Despite an early confrontation between OU head coach Skip Johnson and home plate umpire Damien Beal over inconsistent calls, Witherspoon found his rhythm, keeping Missouri’s bats at bay.
Oklahoma’s bats erupted early in the series finale. In the first inning, Easton Carmichael smashed a three-run homer to left field, scoring Trey Gambill and Jaxon Willits, marking his third home run of the doubleheader day. Kyle Branch followed with a solo shot, giving the Sooners a 4-0 lead. Missouri responded with an RBI single from Pierre Seals, but Oklahoma’s defense stifled the rally with a crisp double play, as Jaxon Willits flipped to Kyle Branch at second and Dayton Tockey at first to end the inning.
The Sooners’ onslaught continued in the second inning. Drew Dickerson launched a 458-foot solo homer over the left-field scoreboard, his second of the season. Sam Christiansen then crushed a three-run homer, pushing Oklahoma’s lead to 8-1. The fourth inning saw Branch drive in Willits on a fielder’s choice, extending the lead to 9-1. In the fifth, Willits showcased his speed and bat control with an RBI triple down the right-field line, scoring Gambill from first to make it 10-1.
Oklahoma sealed the run-rule victory in the seventh. Gambill’s double scored Dawson Willis, and Willits’ single brought Gambill home, setting the score at 12-1. The Sooners’ defense closed out the game with a three-up, three-down bottom of the seventh, featuring two groundouts and a strikeout.
Oklahoma’s offense was a collective effort, with four players—Easton Carmichael, Sam Christiansen, Kyle Branch, and Drew Dickerson—hitting home runs. Jaxon Willits was the standout, going a perfect 4-for-4 with 3 R, 2 RBIs, a double, and a triple. Trey Gambill broke out of a short-lived slump from game two, reaching base four times (three walks, one hit) and scoring four runs.
Looking Ahead
The Sooners’ dominant performance boosts their postseason aspirations, as they now sit two games above .500 in SEC play. Oklahoma returns to action on Tuesday, April 22, hosting in-state opponent Oral Roberts University in Norman at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Sooners then face a tough test next weekend as they travel to Athens, to take on the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in an important SEC series. With their bats firing on all cylinders and confidence soaring, Oklahoma is poised to make waves in the SEC and beyond as the postseason looms.
The series finale was a masterclass in offensive firepower and solid pitching, with Oklahoma securing a 12-1 run-rule victory in seven innings. Junior right-handed pitcher Malachi Witherspoon delivered one of his best outings of the season, throwing 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, and 8 Ks. Despite an early confrontation between OU head coach Skip Johnson and home plate umpire Damien Beal over inconsistent calls, Witherspoon found his rhythm, keeping Missouri’s bats at bay.
Oklahoma’s bats erupted early in the series finale. In the first inning, Easton Carmichael smashed a three-run homer to left field, scoring Trey Gambill and Jaxon Willits, marking his third home run of the doubleheader day. Kyle Branch followed with a solo shot, giving the Sooners a 4-0 lead. Missouri responded with an RBI single from Pierre Seals, but Oklahoma’s defense stifled the rally with a crisp double play, as Jaxon Willits flipped to Kyle Branch at second and Dayton Tockey at first to end the inning.
The Sooners’ onslaught continued in the second inning. Drew Dickerson launched a 458-foot solo homer over the left-field scoreboard, his second of the season. Sam Christiansen then crushed a three-run homer, pushing Oklahoma’s lead to 8-1. The fourth inning saw Branch drive in Willits on a fielder’s choice, extending the lead to 9-1. In the fifth, Willits showcased his speed and bat control with an RBI triple down the right-field line, scoring Gambill from first to make it 10-1.
Oklahoma sealed the run-rule victory in the seventh. Gambill’s double scored Dawson Willis, and Willits’ single brought Gambill home, setting the score at 12-1. The Sooners’ defense closed out the game with a three-up, three-down bottom of the seventh, featuring two groundouts and a strikeout.
Oklahoma’s offense was a collective effort, with four players—Easton Carmichael, Sam Christiansen, Kyle Branch, and Drew Dickerson—hitting home runs. Jaxon Willits was the standout, going a perfect 4-for-4 with 3 R, 2 RBIs, a double, and a triple. Trey Gambill broke out of a short-lived slump from game two, reaching base four times (three walks, one hit) and scoring four runs.
Looking Ahead
The Sooners’ dominant performance boosts their postseason aspirations, as they now sit two games above .500 in SEC play. Oklahoma returns to action on Tuesday, April 22, hosting in-state opponent Oral Roberts University in Norman at 6:30 p.m. CT. The Sooners then face a tough test next weekend as they travel to Athens, to take on the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in an important SEC series. With their bats firing on all cylinders and confidence soaring, Oklahoma is poised to make waves in the SEC and beyond as the postseason looms.
