OU Baseball Gets Swept by Lamar

The Oklahoma baseball team struggled in a home weekend series against Lamar. Let’s talk about it.

In game one, the offenses of both teams came to play and were ready to swing the bats. Oklahoma got on the board first, after a throwing error by Lamar, that allowed Anthony Mackenzie to score.

Lamar responded in the third inning by putting a six spot on the board. In the bottom half of the inning, both Bryce Madron and Mackenzie left the yard, to get OU back within two runs and chip into the lead.

In the top of the fourth OU plated five runs to take the lead. Mackenzie was doing damage all night, and he continued to by hitting an RBI single, and Jackson Nicklaus hit a two-run home run to leave the Sooners up 9-7 going into the fifth inning.

Nicklaus had a monster day at the plate for OU. He tied his career high with four hits, hit one home run, and went 4-for-5 with two RBIs.

The Cardinals would not go down without a fight, and they scored five runs in the seventh inning. Lamar scored the game-winning runs on four hits, and an OU error.

The pitching for OU in the first game of the series did not have a great day. Brendan Girton got the ball to start the game for Skip Johnson and threw 2.2 innings, allowed four hits, and struck out five batters, and gave up one earned run. Relievers Carter Campbell, Carson Atwood, James Hitt, Reid Hensley, Ryan Lambert, and Dylan Crooks would all see action from the bullpen against Lamar.

OU lost the first game of the series 12-10.

Game two on Friday night, was once again an offensive onslaught for both teams. In the first inning alone, there were five home runs hit.

The Sooners hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first, from Jason Walk and Bryce Madron. Jackson Nicklaus also went deep.

OU held a 4-2 lead after the first, but Lamar would respond in a big way once again. The Cardinals would score runs in the next four innings to take the lead, 13-5. Kendall Pettis went deep in the ninth inning, his third of the year. OU lost the second game of the series 13-8.

Nicklaus continued his good series against Lamar at the plate, going 2-for-2 with one home run and two RBIs.

Skip Johnson was ejected from this game for arguing balls and strikes.

Braden Davis started the game for OU and did not turn in a good performance. He went four innings, allowed seven hits, surrendered eight earned runs, and gave up five walks. Malachi Witherspoon and Jett Lodes would finish the rest of the game for the Sooners, with Lodes throwing 4.1 innings of scoreless ball allowing just one hit.

In the series finale, the offenses would cool off, somewhat.

Lamar scored one in the top of the first inning, and OU would tie the game in the second on a sacrifice fly from freshman Isaiah Lane.

In the next three innings, Lamar would score four unanswered runs. Michael Snyder had an RBI double in the sixth.

Jackson Nicklaus finished his series against Lamar in scorching red-hot fashion. He hit his third home run in as many games, with a 2-for-4 performance.

Lamar hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to extend the lead, and final score to 6-3.

Kyson Witherspoon took the loss against Lamar, giving up one earned run, allowing five hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts through five innings. Dylan Crooks, Jace Miner, Brad Pruett, and Ryan Lambert all pitched in relief of Witherspoon, and performed well.

OU pitching struggled all weekend against Lamar. The Sooner offense performed, but the pitching staff just could not put zeros on the board.

Next up for the Sooners is a four-game road trip at Wichita State, that starts on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Images courtesy of Willie Gillespie/OU Daily