OU Opens Big 12 Play vs. TCU at L. Dale Mitchell Park

First Pitch

• Oklahoma (11-6) opens Big 12 play this weekend with a three-game series against No. 11 TCU (9-7) at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Game times are 6:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
• The Sooners have won nine of their last 11 games, including a three-game road sweep at Houston last weekend. OU fell at Wichita State 6-2 in its last contest on Tuesday in Wichita, Kan. The Horned Frogs won two of three games last weekend against San Diego in Fort Worth, and fell 8-4 at Texas State on Tuesday. TCU has won six of its last 10.
• Oklahoma is celebrating its 125th anniversary season in 2023. The program was established in 1898, and OU has competed in 118 seasons since (including 2023).

Tickets/Promotions

• Tickets are available via SoonerSports.com, and general admission tickets can be purchased for only $5 via the Spring Break Special. Mini plans and flex packages are available for all remaining home games.
• The L. Dale Mitchell Park ticket office and entrance gates will open two hours prior to the scheduled game time. The ticket office and will call windows are located behind home plate, along W. Imhoff Rd.
• Friday is St. Patrick's Day. The first 250 fans can receive an OU Baseball beer mug, and green beer will be sold. Fans can take advantage of social hour pricing and purchase $4 16 oz. beers from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
• Also on Friday, new OU head volleyball coach Aaron Mansfield will throw ceremonial first pitch, and a fireworks show will be held after the game.
• Sunday is National Backyard Day. Fans can receive an OU Baseball grilling apron while supplies last. Cornhole and yard game competitions will be held from 12-2 p.m. inside the Mitchell Park gates. The cornhole tournament winner will have the opportunity to throw the ceremonial first pitch, and can receive a Backyard BBQ package, courtesy of Academy. Package items include a grill, an ice chest and two OU tailgate chairs.
• Kids can run the bases on the field after the conclusion Sunday's game as part of "Sunday Runday."

Watch/Listen/Follow

• All three games will be televised via ESPN+, and broadcast locally on Sportstalk 99.3 FM/1400 AM KREF. Toby Rowland and George Frazier will have the call for both the TV and radio broadcasts.
• Live stats will be available at OUStats.com.

Leading Off

• Oklahoma is in its sixth season under the direction of head coach Skip Johnson (including the 2020 season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Johnson, who spent the 2017 season on staff as an assistant coach, has led the Sooners to a 168-110 record, two NCAA Tournament appearances, the 2022 Big 12 tournament championship and the 2022 College World Series finals since taking over as head coach prior to the 2018 season.
• Freshman catcher Easton Carmichael was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week on Monday after batting .571 (12 for 21) with 13 RBIs, two home runs, two triples and six runs in Oklahoma's 5-0 week (two wins over UNLV and three at Houston last weekend). The Prosper, Texas, product registered a 1.048 slugging percentage and a .591 OBP for the week. In OU's weekend road sweep at Houston, he went 8 for 14 with eight RBIs, a home run, two triples and four runs in the three-game set. Against UNLV on Tuesday and Wednesday, Carmichael went 4 for 7 with five RBIs.
• Through 16 games, Carmichael leads the Sooners with a .422 batting average (27 for 64) and 25 RBIs. He also paces the team with nine extra base hits (team-high four triples and tied for team lead with three home runs). He leads the Big 12, is tied for fifth nationally and leads all catchers with his four triples.
• Junior transfer first baseman Anthony Mackenzie is batting .406 (28 for 69), and leads the team with 19 runs scored and 13 stolen bases (13 of 14). Junior shortstop Dakota Harris has registered 22 RBIs and a team-high five doubles, and is hitting .370 (27 for 73). Freshman first baseman Rocco Garza-Gongora is hitting .383 (18 for 47) with two home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored. Junior right fielder Bryce Madron has registered 30 walks in the season's first 17 games and has scored 16 runs.
• Oklahoma is batting .297 and averaging 7.3 runs, 9.8 hits, 2.9 extra base hits, 6.5 walks and 2.8 stolen bases per game, and has a 4.37 team ERA. OU opponents have batted .251 and averaged 5.1 runs, 8.6 hits, 2.5 extra base hits, 3.9 walks and 7.2 strikeouts per contest.
• The Horned Frogs are batting .271 and averaging 6.0 runs, 9.1 hits, 2.8 extra base hits and 4.4 walks per game and has a 4.47 team ERA. TCU opponents have batted .238 and averaged 5.2 runs, 8.3 hits, 2.9 extra base hits, 3.7 walks and 8.9 strikeouts per contest.
• Carmichael and Mackenzie both carry eight-game hitting streaks. Carmichael has reached in 14 straight contests, and Carmichael and Harris lead the team with nine multiple-hit games and seven multiple-RBI games apiece. Mackenzie has multiple hits in eight contests.
• Nineteen of OU's newcomers have seen game action this season (seven position players and 12 pitchers).
• A total of 18 pitchers have appeared in a game this season, and 16 pitchers have made an appearance in at least two of OU's 17 contests.

Series History

• Oklahoma leads the all-time series against TCU 64-42 and holds a 33-17 advantage all time in Norman.
• The Sooners won two of three games in Fort Worth last season (May 6-8).
• Prior to OU's wins in the final two games of the 2022 series, TCU had won seven straight in the series. The Horned Frogs have won 19 of the last 26 meetings since the start of the 2014 season. OU swept the 2013 series in Norman, the first Big 12 conference series between the schools.
• Oklahoma won the 2017 series in Norman (two games to one), but TCU won two of three games in 2019 and all three contests of the 2021 series in Norman.
• The Sooners and Horned Frogs played at least once each year from 1991-2012 (typically in midweek contests).