The Oklahoma Sooners continue their red-hot start to the 2025 season with a marquee midweek matchup, traveling to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex to take on No. 21 Dallas Baptist on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and broadcast on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF in Oklahoma and nationwide on The Varsity app, with Toby Rowland and Sooner alum Ross Hubbard on the call.
Sooners Look to Stay Unbeaten
One of just seven undefeated teams remaining in the nation, Oklahoma (11-0) is off to its best start since the program’s record-setting 16-0 run in 2011. The Sooners, fresh off a dominant sweep of Cal State Northridge, have been making noise in the rankings, climbing three spots to No. 13 in the latest D1Baseball poll while cracking the top 10 in Baseball America’s rankings for the first time this season.
OU has already racked up multiple top-10 wins, including a signature victory over No. 2 Virginia (Feb. 23), marking the Sooners’ highest-ranked win since toppling No. 1 Arkansas in 2021. With wins over both No. 7 Oregon State and Virginia, Oklahoma claimed back-to-back top-10 victories for the first time since the 2022 season.
Statistical Leaders & Offensive Firepower
The Sooners have been an offensive force, averaging 8.5 runs per game while hitting .330 as a team. They rank in the top 10 nationally in stolen bases (33, 10th) and steals per game (3.00, ninth), using their aggressive baserunning to keep opponents on edge. Oklahoma also sits fifth in the country in triples (7), showcasing their ability to hit for extra bases.
Leading the charge is Jason Walk, who boasts a .432 batting average and a team-high seven stolen bases. Five Sooners are hitting over .300, including Kyle Branch (.415), Dayton Tockey (.406), Sam Christiansen (.357), and Trey Gambill (.323). On the mound, Oklahoma’s pitching staff has been stellar, posting a 2.41 ERA (sixth nationally) and a 1.14 WHIP (19th nationally).
DBU Aims to Extend Home Success vs. Sooners
Dallas Baptist (7-4) has proven to be a tough opponent for Oklahoma in recent years, winning four of the last five meetings, including both matchups in 2024. The Patriots hold a 7-4 record against OU in games played in Dallas and will look to add another win to their impressive early-season résumé.
DBU is ranked in all five major polls for the fourth consecutive week, with their highest ranking coming from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association at No. 17. The Patriots are coming off a hard-fought series win over Oral Roberts, bouncing back from a Friday night loss to claim 6-1 and 6-5 victories.
DBU Players to Watch
- Grant Jay: The power-hitting catcher launched two home runs last weekend, tying for second on DBU’s all-time home run list. He ranks sixth nationally in slugging percentage (1.025) and tenth in home runs (6).
- Rian Schwede: The right-hander worked a season-high seven innings against Oral Roberts, allowing just one run to improve to 3-0 on the season.
- Nick Bonn: Closed out the series win over Oral Roberts with his first career save, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning.
- Mason Swinney: The Alabama transfer recorded his first hit as a Patriot and stole home in Sunday’s win.
- Nathan Humphreys: The DBU leadoff hitter has reached base in all 11 games this season and became just the sixth Patriot to steal 40 career bases.
DBU’s pitching staff ranks 21st in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (11.2) and holds the second-lowest ERA (3.99) in Conference USA. Five Patriots are batting over .300, led by Jay (.425), Joey Nerat (.389), and Tom Poole (.341).
Series History & What’s at Stake
Oklahoma leads the all-time series 26-18 but has found recent matchups challenging, going 13-18 against DBU since the Patriots joined Division I in 2004. The Sooners’ last win over DBU came in a 10-7 victory in Dallas in 2023, and they’ll look to snap a two-game skid against the Patriots on Tuesday.
A win for Oklahoma would not only keep their undefeated record intact but also add another ranked victory to an already impressive early-season résumé. For DBU, the game presents an opportunity to claim another quality win as they continue their stretch of nine straight games against NCAA postseason teams from last year.
Looking Ahead
Following Tuesday’s contest, Oklahoma returns home for a weekend series, while DBU heads back on the road for a three-game set against Louisiana, beginning Friday, March 7, in Lafayette.
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