NORMAN, OK — The No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners saw their four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday night, falling 5-3 to Oral Roberts University at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The loss marked the Golden Eagles’ first victory in Norman since 2019 and exposed an uncharacteristically quiet Sooners offense that had been dominant in recent outings.
Coming off four consecutive run-rule victories where they amassed 57 runs, Oklahoma struggled to find a rhythm against Oral Roberts’ pitching. The Sooners managed just six hits on the night, a stark contrast to their recent offensive firepower.
Oklahoma struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Trey Gambill doubled and later scored on a groundout by Sam Christiansen, giving the Sooners an early 1-0 lead. However, Oral Roberts responded quickly in the top of the second. Keaton Campbell’s groundout plated Jack Schark, and Matthew Brandt’s single to right-center scored Makani Tanaka, flipping the score to 2-1 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles extended their lead in the fourth when Ethan Fender’s single drove in Schark, making it 3-1. The Sooners answered back and tied it up with a 2-run single by Dawson Willis. Cooper Combs singled to center in the fifth, scoring Martell Davis to push the lead to 4-3. Oral Roberts added an insurance run in the ninth on Wailele Kane-Yates’ single, scoring Will Edmunson to make it 5-3.
Oklahoma’s pitching staff, led by starter Gavyn Jones (2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K), Reid Hensley (2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0K), and Michael Catalano (2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K), kept the game within reach. Catalano was tagged with the loss, but the Sooners’ defense was not the issue. The Golden Eagles’ pitching stifled Oklahoma’s bats, closing out the ninth to secure the 5-3 upset.
Despite the loss, Dawson Willis stood out for Oklahoma, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI and drawing two walks. However, the Sooners’ offense, which had been a juggernaut in recent games, failed to capitalize on opportunities, leaving runners stranded and struggling to string together hits.
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The loss serves as a wake-up call for Oklahoma as they prepare for a critical road series against No. 10 Georgia in Athens. The Bulldogs, ranked sixth in the SEC, present a formidable challenge. A series win would bolster Oklahoma’s standing in the SEC and solidify their postseason aspirations.
The Sooners must rediscover their offensive spark to compete with a Georgia squad known for its depth and pitching prowess. First pitch for the series opener is set for Thursday, with Oklahoma aiming to rebound and prove their recent loss was merely a hiccup in an otherwise strong season.
Coming off four consecutive run-rule victories where they amassed 57 runs, Oklahoma struggled to find a rhythm against Oral Roberts’ pitching. The Sooners managed just six hits on the night, a stark contrast to their recent offensive firepower.
Oklahoma struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Trey Gambill doubled and later scored on a groundout by Sam Christiansen, giving the Sooners an early 1-0 lead. However, Oral Roberts responded quickly in the top of the second. Keaton Campbell’s groundout plated Jack Schark, and Matthew Brandt’s single to right-center scored Makani Tanaka, flipping the score to 2-1 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles extended their lead in the fourth when Ethan Fender’s single drove in Schark, making it 3-1. The Sooners answered back and tied it up with a 2-run single by Dawson Willis. Cooper Combs singled to center in the fifth, scoring Martell Davis to push the lead to 4-3. Oral Roberts added an insurance run in the ninth on Wailele Kane-Yates’ single, scoring Will Edmunson to make it 5-3.
Oklahoma’s pitching staff, led by starter Gavyn Jones (2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 K), Reid Hensley (2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0K), and Michael Catalano (2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K), kept the game within reach. Catalano was tagged with the loss, but the Sooners’ defense was not the issue. The Golden Eagles’ pitching stifled Oklahoma’s bats, closing out the ninth to secure the 5-3 upset.
Despite the loss, Dawson Willis stood out for Oklahoma, going 1-for-2 with 2 RBI and drawing two walks. However, the Sooners’ offense, which had been a juggernaut in recent games, failed to capitalize on opportunities, leaving runners stranded and struggling to string together hits.
Up Next:
The loss serves as a wake-up call for Oklahoma as they prepare for a critical road series against No. 10 Georgia in Athens. The Bulldogs, ranked sixth in the SEC, present a formidable challenge. A series win would bolster Oklahoma’s standing in the SEC and solidify their postseason aspirations.
The Sooners must rediscover their offensive spark to compete with a Georgia squad known for its depth and pitching prowess. First pitch for the series opener is set for Thursday, with Oklahoma aiming to rebound and prove their recent loss was merely a hiccup in an otherwise strong season.
