Oklahoma made the most of its road trip to Tulsa on Wendesday night. The Sooners placed anothe mark in the win column with a dominant 11-2 victory over Oral Roberts at J.L. Johnson Stadium in Tulsa. The No. 9-ranked Sooners showcased their offensive firepower and a stellar bullpen performance to improve to 21-3 on the season, heading into a crucial SEC road series at Alabama.
ORU (15-9) struck first, capitalizing on an early opportunity in the opening inning. Will Edmunson led off with an infield single and later scored on a pair of wild pitches. Another run came across on a double-play ball, giving the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead before the Sooners had their first at-bat. That, however, would be the extent of ORU’s offensive success.
Oklahoma answered quickly, scratching across a run in the second when Dawson Willis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Sooners tied it in the third when Jaxon Willits raced home on a double-play ball, setting the stage for a game-breaking fourth inning.
The Sooners erupted for four runs in the fourth to take control. Willis scored on a wild pitch to give OU its first lead of the night before Trey Gambill launched a two-run home run to right field—the first of his Oklahoma career. Kyle Branch capped the rally with an RBI double to left, extending the Sooners’ lead to 6-2.
OU added four more runs in the seventh, capitalizing on ORU’s defensive miscues. After a pair of walks, Willis delivered an RBI single before back-to-back errors by the Golden Eagles allowed two more runs to cross. A groundout from Willits plated the final run of the frame, making it a commanding 10-2 advantage. Freshman Drew Dickerson added an RBI single in the eighth to cap off the scoring at 11-2.
On the mound, the Sooners were nearly untouchable. After OU starter Jacob Gholston labored through the first inning, allowing two runs on one hit and two walks, reliever Reid Hensley entered and dominated. Hensley (2-0) tossed five hitless, scoreless innings with three strikeouts, stabilizing the game and allowing OU’s offense to break it open. Gavyn Jones and Jackson Kircher each worked two innings in relief, surrendering just three total hits the rest of the way.
Offensively, the Sooners spread the wealth, with seven different players recording a hit. Willis and Branch led the way—Willis went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Branch finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and two doubles. Gambill added a 2-for-3 night with a homer, double, and two RBIs.
The Sooners, winners of 10 of their last 12, now shift their focus back to SEC play. Oklahoma will travel to Tuscaloosa for a three-game set against No. 12 Alabama this weekend, looking to continue their strong start in their new conference home.
Follow us on X: @SportsHeartland