No. 10 Oklahoma (20-3, 4-2 SEC) secured its second consecutive SEC series victory, taking two out of three games against Mississippi State (15-9, 1-5 SEC) in Norman. After dropping the series opener in a low-scoring affair, the Sooners bounced back with high-powered offensive performances and clutch pitching to seal the series win.
Game 1: Oklahoma Falls in Pitcher’s Duel, 2-1
The series opener saw a dominant pitching battle, with Mississippi State edging Oklahoma in a 2-1 contest. The Bulldogs handed the Sooners their first home loss of the season as Oklahoma struggled to generate offense.
OU junior right-hander Kyson Witherspoon (L, 5-1) suffered his first loss of the year despite an outstanding performance. Witherspoon struck out 11 batters, marking his third double-digit strikeout game of the season, and allowed just one earned run on five hits and one walk.
Mississippi State struck first, plating an unearned run in the first inning before extending the lead to 2-0 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly. Oklahoma cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the seventh when Jason Walk roped an RBI double to score Dasan Harris. However, the Sooners were unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities in the final innings, striking out a season-high 14 times against Bulldog pitching.
Game 2: Sooners Outslug Bulldogs in 13-11 Thriller
Oklahoma bounced back in an offensive explosion on Saturday, winning 13-11 in a back-and-forth battle. The game featured a combined 24 runs on 31 hits, with Dawson Willis delivering the decisive moment on a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning.
The Sooners jumped out to a fast start, scoring five runs in the first inning, aided by two Mississippi State errors. Oklahoma added two more runs in the second, extending the lead to 7-0. However, the Bulldogs responded with a five-run third inning and continued chipping away until taking an 11-10 lead in the seventh.
Easton Carmichael tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh before Willis crushed his game-winning home run in the eighth. OU closer Dylan Crooks shut the door in the ninth, retiring the side in order to secure the win.
Eight Sooners registered a hit, with Jaxon Willits leading the way with four RBIs. Oklahoma also wreaked havoc on the basepaths, stealing nine bases to match a season high. On the mound, relievers James Hitt and Crooks combined for a scoreless final two innings, with Crooks earning his second win of the season.
Game 3: Oklahoma Clinches Series with 7-3 Victory
The Sooners closed out the series in convincing fashion on Sunday, defeating Mississippi State 7-3 behind strong pitching and timely hitting.
OU starting right-hander Malachi Witherspoon set the tone, retiring the side in order in the first before the Sooners jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout from Carmichael. Dawson Willis added an RBI double in the second to extend the lead to 2-0.
Mississippi State briefly took the lead with a three-run third inning, but Oklahoma responded with five unanswered runs to take control. Sam Christiansen tied the game with a solo home run in the fifth, and the Sooners took the lead for good with a three-run sixth inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Carmichael.
OU’s bullpen dominated the final four innings, with freshman Jaden Barfield and closer Dylan Crooks combining to hold Mississippi State scoreless. Crooks not only picked up his SEC-leading seventh save but also contributed at the plate, laying down a key sacrifice bunt in the eighth to bring in an insurance run.
Carmichael led Oklahoma with a 2-for-4, two-RBI performance, while the Sooners stole six bases, bringing their series total to 21 stolen bases. On the mound, Witherspoon went 4.1 innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits, while the bullpen kept Mississippi State in check the rest of the way.
Top Performers of the Weekend
Dawson Willis
Willis provided clutch moments throughout the series, including a game-winning home run in Game 2 and an RBI double in Game 3. He finished the weekend with five RBIs and three stolen bases, proving to be a key factor in Oklahoma’s offensive success.
Easton Carmichael
Carmichael was a consistent force at the plate, collecting four hits and driving in three runs across the series. His timely hitting played a crucial role in Oklahoma’s comeback efforts.
Kyson Witherspoon
Despite taking the loss in Game 1, Witherspoon was outstanding, striking out 11 batters and allowing just one earned run in a complete-game effort. His dominance on the mound continues to be a bright spot for the Sooners.
Dylan Crooks
Crooks solidified his status as one of the best closers in the SEC, picking up a win and a save while striking out four batters in 3.0 scoreless innings. His ability to shut the door in high-leverage situations was pivotal for Oklahoma’s series win.
Key Takeaways from the Series
Oklahoma’s offense remains explosive, capable of producing big innings against quality pitching. The Sooners’ aggressive base running, with 21 stolen bases in the series, continues to be a major weapon.
The pitching staff showed resilience, bouncing back from Mississippi State’s offensive bursts in Game 2 to deliver a strong effort in the series finale. The bullpen, led by Crooks and Barfield, proved reliable in securing crucial outs late in games.
What’s Next?
Oklahoma will travel to Tulsa for a midweek contest against Oral Roberts on Tuesday, March 26, before heading to Tuscaloosa for a three-game SEC series against Alabama from March 28-30. The Sooners will be playing their second conference series away from home in three weeks.
All games can be streamed on ESPN+ and heard on The Varsity Network app with Toby Rowland on the call.
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