CHAPEL HILL, NC — The Oklahoma Sooners kicked off their Road to Omaha with a gritty 7-4 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Chapel Hill Regional opener on Friday. Fueled by a stellar outing from pitcher Malachi Witherspoon and timely offensive firepower, the Sooners held off a late Nebraska rally to secure the win.
Witherspoon set the tone early, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning by fielding a comebacker for the final out. The junior right-hander was electric, touching 98 mph with his fastball and delivering six scoreless innings. His final line: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K. Malachi seemed locked in and delivered exactly what the Sooners needed to settle in and play their game.
The Sooners’ offense broke through in the second inning when Scott Mudler led off with a single. Moments later, Mudler gave fans a scare, exiting briefly after seeming to have injured his right wrist on a slide into first base during a pickoff attempt. It was later revealed that he had popped his shoulder out of socket, and the medical staff popped it back in for him to return to the game. After Mudler returned, Drew Dickerson promptly crushed a two-run homer—his third of the season—to put Oklahoma up 2-0.
Easton Carmichael kept the momentum rolling, launching a solo home run in the third to extend the lead to 3-0. The junior catcher, a reliable spark for the Sooners, went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Oklahoma continued to build its lead in the fifth, as Trey Gambill’s RBI single scored Jaxon Willits, making it 4-0. The Sooners broke the game open in the seventh, capitalizing on a bases-loaded opportunity. Mudler grounded out to plate Dayton Tockey, and Kyle Branch followed with a two-run single to right, pushing the lead to 7-0.
Nebraska, however, refused to go quietly. In the eighth, Max Buettenback’s three-run triple sparked a Husker rally, cutting the deficit to 7-3. Will Jesske’s sacrifice fly brought Buettenback home, narrowing the gap to 7-4. But Oklahoma’s bullpen slammed the door, stifling any further comeback hopes.
Mudler, who battled through a shoulder issue, earned praise for his resilience. The senior went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, showcasing his toughness. Dickerson also shone, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and his pivotal homer.
The Sooners’ defense backed Witherspoon with several tough plays, ensuring Nebraska’s early threats went unanswered. They were locked in on both sides -- that’s the kind of baseball they hope to play this time of year.
Oklahoma now advances to face the regional host North Carolina Tar Heels in the winner’s bracket on Saturday. The victor will hold a commanding position heading into the Chapel Hill Regional final. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT, with the Sooners looking to take another step toward Omaha.
Witherspoon set the tone early, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the first inning by fielding a comebacker for the final out. The junior right-hander was electric, touching 98 mph with his fastball and delivering six scoreless innings. His final line: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K. Malachi seemed locked in and delivered exactly what the Sooners needed to settle in and play their game.
The Sooners’ offense broke through in the second inning when Scott Mudler led off with a single. Moments later, Mudler gave fans a scare, exiting briefly after seeming to have injured his right wrist on a slide into first base during a pickoff attempt. It was later revealed that he had popped his shoulder out of socket, and the medical staff popped it back in for him to return to the game. After Mudler returned, Drew Dickerson promptly crushed a two-run homer—his third of the season—to put Oklahoma up 2-0.
Easton Carmichael kept the momentum rolling, launching a solo home run in the third to extend the lead to 3-0. The junior catcher, a reliable spark for the Sooners, went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Oklahoma continued to build its lead in the fifth, as Trey Gambill’s RBI single scored Jaxon Willits, making it 4-0. The Sooners broke the game open in the seventh, capitalizing on a bases-loaded opportunity. Mudler grounded out to plate Dayton Tockey, and Kyle Branch followed with a two-run single to right, pushing the lead to 7-0.
Nebraska, however, refused to go quietly. In the eighth, Max Buettenback’s three-run triple sparked a Husker rally, cutting the deficit to 7-3. Will Jesske’s sacrifice fly brought Buettenback home, narrowing the gap to 7-4. But Oklahoma’s bullpen slammed the door, stifling any further comeback hopes.
Mudler, who battled through a shoulder issue, earned praise for his resilience. The senior went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, showcasing his toughness. Dickerson also shone, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and his pivotal homer.
The Sooners’ defense backed Witherspoon with several tough plays, ensuring Nebraska’s early threats went unanswered. They were locked in on both sides -- that’s the kind of baseball they hope to play this time of year.
Oklahoma now advances to face the regional host North Carolina Tar Heels in the winner’s bracket on Saturday. The victor will hold a commanding position heading into the Chapel Hill Regional final. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT, with the Sooners looking to take another step toward Omaha.
