NORMAN —
Jackson Nicklaus went 4 for 4 with a double,
Bryce Madron notched four RBIs and
Rocco Garza-Gongora and
Easton Carmichael each drove in three runs to lead Oklahoma to an 11-6 win over UNLV Tuesday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
The Sooners (7-5) exploded for 11 runs over the sixth, seventh and eighth innings after five scoreless frames. The Rebels (5-7) scored all six of their runs in the ninth inning.
Carmichael, who was 3 for 3 off the bench, and Garza-Gongora gave Oklahoma a 3-0 lead with back-to-back singles in the sixth inning. Madron added a two-run double in the seventh to extend OU's lead to 5-0, and then lined another two-run single in the eighth. Carmichael hit a two-run single and Garza-Gongora added a sacrifice fly to make it 11-0.
The OU pitching staff did not allow a hit until the sixth inning. Starter
Gray Harrison struck out five batters over 4.0 innings, and Jamie Hitt (1-0) punched out two batters over two relief frames to earn his first win at Oklahoma.
Jett Lodes struck out two over a pair of scoreless innings. Noah Carabajal (0-1) took the loss in relief for UNLV.
Carmichael entered as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and lined a two-out single to left field, scoring
Dakota Harris. After a balk, Garza-Gongora brought home both runners with a base hit to right field. Oklahoma started the seventh with three straight hits – a single by
John Spikerman, a double by
Anthony Mackenzie and a two-run double by Madron – to make the score 5-0.
In the eighth, the Sooners loaded the bases on a walk and two hit batters, setting up Madron's two-run single. A wild pitch allowed Mackenzie to score, then Carmichael singled home two runs and Nicklaus, who walked, scored on the sacrifice fly by Garza-Gongora.
UNLV scored in the ninth on two walks, two errors and a two-run single by Alex Pimentel. Edarian Williams had two hits for the Rebels.
Oklahoma finished with 14 hits, the fourth time in five games it has registered double-digit hits. Carmichael Madron and
Dakota Harris each went 2 for 5. Harris has tallied 12 hits in his last four contests.
The Sooners and Rebels play again at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mitchell Park. Tickets can be purchased for just $5. The game will be streamed via SoonerVision on ESPN+ and broadcast locally on Sportstalk 99.3 FM/1400 AM KREF and Sportstalk1400.com.