Sooners Drop Game Two in Columbia

Saturday, March 15

Columbia, S.C.

3 p.m. CT

University of Oklahoma

16-2, 1-1

South Carolina

16-4, 1-1

Oklahoma

South Carolina

March 15, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Final Stats Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 12 Oklahoma fell 11-5 Saturday at South Carolina as the Gamecocks evened the series at one game apiece. The teams will meet for the rubber game Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT.

OU (16-2, 1-1 SEC) took an early lead in the second on an RBI single from Scott Mudler after starting RHP Malachi Witherspoon struck out the side in the first.

South Carolina (16-4, 1-1 SEC) evened the score in the home half of the second on a solo home run to left field, just the third surrendered by M. Witherspoon in five starts.

The Sooners retook the lead in the third on a two-run home run to left from sophomore Jaxon Willits. It was the shortstop's fifth of the season to move him into a tie for the team lead. The Gamecocks pulled within one in the home half of the third via single before a double play ended the threat.

South Carolina broke through with crooked numbers in the fourth and fifth, plating seven runs across the two innings. A solo homer and two-run single in the fourth started the scoring before four runs crossed in the fifth via sacrifice fly, a pair of singles and an error.

OU plated single runs in the fifth and eighth via a sac fly from freshman Kyle Branch and wild pitch that scored Mudler. South Carolina scattered single runs in the seventh and eighth to bring the final to 11-5.

It was just the third time an opponent has scored five or more runs on the Sooners and USC's 11 runs tied the most surrendered by OU in a game this season.

Willits paced OU with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, his second game with three hits in OU's last three. Witherspoon (L, 2-1) took his first loss of the season on the mound, striking out five but surrendered six runs on seven hits with three walks in four innings. Relievers Michael Catalano (0.1 IP), Gavyn Jones (2.0), Reid Hensley (1.0) and Jackson Kircher (0.2) closed the contest with Jones striking out a career-best four.

The team's meet for the series on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. CT. The start time has been pushed back an hour due to anticipated weather in the Columbia area on Sunday morning.

The game can be seen via SECN+ and heard in Oklahoma on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF or nationwide on The Varsity Network app with Toby Rowland on the call.

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