Sooners Sweep Doubleheader, Take Series Over UCF

Saturday, March 9

Norman

12 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

7-5, 0

UCF

9-2, 0

UCF

Oklahoma

Sooners Sweep Doubleheader, Take Series Over UCF

March 09, 2024 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score: OU 4, UCF 3 Box: OU 11, UCF 3 Highlights

NORMAN — Oklahoma baseball swept a Saturday doubleheader over UCF to claim its first conference series victory of 2024.

The Sooners (8-5) won the first game of the day, 4-3, before turning around to beat the Knights 11-3 in the nightcap.

"I think the more we play, the better we're going to play," said OU head coach Skip Johnson. "It's a long day when you're playing a doubleheader. They're not used to being on the field that long so I thought that was really big for them showing the effort, and really, we never lost the momentum in the second game. In the first game, we lost the momentum a little bit, and but we came in and got some big runs when we had to."

GAME ONE (OU 4, UCF 3)

In the early game, OU starter LHP Braden Davis went six innings, striking out six and allowing just two runs on six hits and no walks. The Oklahoma offense started in the second inning on an RBI single from junior Anthony Mackenzie to put OU up 1-0.

The Knights (9-3) tied the contest in the next frame on a solo shot to right field from Matt Cedarburg before taking their first lead of the day on an RBI groundout in the sixth.

The bottom of the sixth saw OU junior Jackson Nicklaus even things up with an RBI single to left field to plate sophomore Easton Carmichael.

In the seventh, UCF retook the lead on a single to left but OU reliever RHP Malachi Witherspoon entered and left the bases loaded with the help of a diving grab from Nicklaus.

To the bottom of the seventh, a sacrifice fly RBI from Sooners freshman Jaxon Willits evened the game at 3-3.

At the bottom of the eighth with pinch runner Jason Walk on second, a groundout from redshirt senior Michael Snyder advanced Walk to third before an errant throw to third from the UCF first baseman allowed Walk to race home for the game-winning run.

At the plate, Nicklaus, Mackenzie and Willits all brought in a run, while Nicklaus and fellow junior John Spikerman finished 2-for-4 to lead OU.

On the mound, OU used four pitchers with reliever M. Witherspoon (1-1) getting the win, tossing two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out three. Malachi's brother and fellow RHP, Kyson Witherspoon, earned the save in the ninth.

GAME TWO (OU 11, UCF 3)

The Sooners scored early and often in the second game of the day, putting up runs in each frame en route to an 11-3 series-clinching victory.

In the first, a bases-clearing triple from Snyder, his second three-bagger of the season, scored three to put OU up early.

Senior Bryce Madron bounced a double over the wall in the second inning to add another run.

The Knights pulled within striking distance in the third inning, plating a pair on an RBI single and HBP.

The Sooners would rattle off four unanswered runs from the bottom of the third to the sixth inning with RBIs from Willits, Carmichael, Spikerman and Snyder.

In the seventh, the Knights showed life off a solo home run from Andrew Sundean before OU would get the run back and more with a trio of runs across the seventh and eighth innings.

Madron ripped a sac-fly to right to plate redshirt senior Kendall Pettis in the seventh before junior Scott Mudler put an exclamation point on the win with a two-run home run down the right line in the eighth.

OU's pitching staff was exceptional on the day, with another five arms getting work in Game 2. Lefty reliever Grant Stevens (W, 2-0) earned the win, throwing 2.2 innings and surrendering one run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. Starter Brendan Girton fanned four, while relievers Carson Atwood (2 K), Brad Pruett (2 K) and Reid Hensley (1 K) all saw work out of the bullpen.

At the plate, nine Sooners recorded a hit in the nightcap, with six bringing in at least one run. Snyder lead the group with four runs batted in, while Madron and Carmichael each registered a pair of hits.

OU looks to sweep the Big 12 opening series on Sunday with first pitch at noon CT. The finale can be seen on ESPN+ and heard locally on SportsTalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM or nationwide on The Varsity app.

Single game tickets and mini-plan options are available via SoonerSports.com/tickets.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma baseball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.