OU Baseball: Oklahoma Survives UT Arlington Rally

The Sooners jumped out early and built a big lead, then had to survive another bullpen meltdown for an important midweek victory.

Oklahoma's Anthony MacKenzie (3) slides home. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY

By OU Media Relations

NORMAN – Oklahoma baseball returned to the win column with a 11-9 win Tuesday night over UT Arlington at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman. 

The OU (18-14, 8-4 Big 12) offense racked up 11 runs on 13 hits, while the Sooner pitching staff utilized 11 pitchers on the night, combining for 12 strikeouts.

The Sooners got on the board early, putting up four runs on two hits and a UTA (14-19, 9-6 WAC) error in the first after OU starting RHP Carson Atwood retired the side in order to start the game. 

After a HBP and pair of walks, an errant throw to third base from the Mav catcher allowed senior Bryce Madron to race home. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly RBI from fellow senior Kendall Pettis scored OU’s second run of the frame. Freshman Jaxon Willits followed up with a two-run single to center, continuing his hot streak at the plate to make it 4-0, Sooners, through one. 

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Following a scoreless second inning where senior RHP Will Carsten put the Mavericks down in order, the OU bats put up five runs on six hits. Junior Jackson Nicklaus led off the frame with a single to center and stole second, before a Pettis sacrifice bunt moved him to third and a Willits sac-bunt plated him. Another pair of base hits led to a pair of RBI singles for senior Anthony Mackenzie and Madron. After Madron stole second, sophomore Easton Carmichael doubled him in with a knock to left center to make it 9-0 through three. 

UT Arlington broke up the shutout in the fourth, scoring a pair on a double down the left line and wild pitch. 

Scoreless fifth and sixth innings ensued as relievers Dylan Crooks and Ryan Lambert combined to strand a pair of Mavericks. 

In the seventh, after UTA plated two in the top half, the Sooners got both runs back at the bottom of the inning. After freshman Isaiah Lane registered his third hit of the contest, adding to his first multi-hit game of his young career, Mackenzie ripped an RBI triple down the alley in right. The next at-bat, Mackenzie raced home on a wild pitch for the second run of the inning. 

After trailing by seven runs entering the ninth, UTA would attempt a rally by scoring five runs in the ninth, capped by a grand slam before junior RHP Brendan Girton entered and collected the final out. 

Relievers Jett Lodes, Reid Hensley, Jacob Gholston, Brad Pruett and Girton closed the contest for the Sooners. Lambert earned the win in relief, hurling 1.1 scoreless innings with one strikeout. Carsten and sophomore Malachi Witherspoon each fanned a game-high three, while transfer RHP Jason Bollman saw his second appearance of the season and struck out a pair.

Lane and Mackenzie paced OU at the plate, each putting up 3-for-4 performances with Mackenzie bringing in a pair of runs. Willits plated a trio while Carmichael brought in two. 

OU is back in action this weekend as the Sooners return to conference play to host Kansas State (20-10, 7-5 Big 12). Friday’s first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. before a 4 p.m. start Saturday and 2 p.m. finale on Sunday.