Oklahoma Blows Out Wright State In Home Opener

The Oklahoma baseball team defeated Wright State in the home opener 20-0. Let’s talk about it.

The offensive onslaught for the Sooners started early on in the game. They scored at least one run in each of the first five frames of the game. OU had the lead-off man on base in six of the first seven innings of the game. The Sooners were able to chase the Wright State starter Jake Shirk out of the game after just four innings.

Bryce Madron started the scoring for the Sooners, Hitting an RBI double, his first of two on the day. John Spikerman had a monster day at the plate, collecting three hits, two RBIs, and a stolen base. He is off to a red-hot start to his junior season, with his batting average up to .524. Madron ended the day with two hits and three RBIs.

Michael Snyder also got in on the offensive action against Wright State. He had an RBI single in the second inning, an RBI double in the fifth, and a single in the seventh inning to complete his three-hit day at the plate. He has been doing damage to start the season for the Sooners. A familiar face for OU was also welcomed back to the lineup against Wright State. Anthony Mackenzie made his season debut, and homered on just his second plate appearance of the game to extend the Sooners lead to 6-0.

Jackson Nicklaus had an RBI double that blooped into left field, it was the Sooner’s third consecutive double, and plated the fifth run of six in the fifth inning. Kendall Pettis, who started off the inning, got up again to end it. OU was all over Raider pitching all day long.

Braden Davis was spectacular against the Raiders. He had seven strikeouts through five full innings of work. He had nasty stuff all afternoon and was working both sides of the plate well. The Wright State hitters were off-balance all day. He labored slightly in the fifth inning but was able to work his way out of trouble. The junior transfer from Sam Houston State ended his day after six innings of shutout ball, three hits, eight strikeouts, and just one walk. His season ERA, after two starts, is at a staggering 0.82.

Head coach Skip Johnson made some defensive changes in the sixth inning. Jason Walk, and Isaiah Lane, who had a bases-clearing triple in the eighth inning for his first collegiate hit, both saw the field after the changes were made. Highly touted freshman Dasan Harris also got some playing time after pinch-hitting in the seventh inning and recorded his first hit and RBI of his career. Skip Johnson was able to get some guys off their feet ahead of a double header tomorrow.

Scott Mudler, hit a seventh-inning three-run home run to extend the lead to 17-0. It was number 20 in the hit column for the Sooners on the day.

The Sooners played complimentary baseball in the first game of the series against Wright State. OU had great offense and defense, paired with exceptional pitching from both Braden Davis and the bullpen. Jett Lodes came on in relief of Davis and did his job even in a blowout. He finished with one hit, four strikeouts, and one walk. Myles Meyer came on after Lodes, and couldn’t close the game out, after loading the bases. Brad Pruett came in to preserve the shutout for OU, striking out the final two batters of the game. The Sooners had 15 strikeouts as a staff against the Raiders.

Next up for the Sooners is a doubleheader on Saturday against Wright State. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Images courtesy of Gerald Leong and Vashaun Newman