OU Baseball: Jett Lodes Fuels Oklahoma to Victory, Pushes Sooners Within One Game of Super Regionals

The senior reliever helped OU avoid elimination, forcing a decisive contest in the Norman Regional on Monday.

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY

NORMAN — To stave off elimination, unlikely heroes must emerge. 

Enter Jett Lodes. 

Oklahoma's senior right-hander had made 16 appearances entering the weekend, pitching a total of 23 innings for the Sooners. 

But in Sunday’s second contest of the Norman Regional, a do-or-die rematch with the UConn Huskies, OU coach Skip Johnson gave Lodes the ball in relief of starter Brendan Girton. 

He inherited one baserunner in the second inning (and allowed him to score) before bearing down to throw his best game as a Sooner. The Yukon, OK, product struck out a career-best seven batters in the longest outing of his career in what became a 6-4 victory over Connecticut.

Lodes' pitching and just enough offense forced a winner-take-all game against the Huskies at 8 p.m. Monday night.

Lodes held off UConn long enough for Scott Mudler to rocket a single through the right side, putting OU on top for the first time in the top of the eighth inning. 

Bryce Madron plated another two runs with a two-out double, sending the late-night crowd at L Dale Mitchell Park into a frenzy.

"It was a good day for the Sooners," Johnson said after the win. "... (Lodes) did something that a lot of people don’t do and he knows now he can do anything he wants to do. He’s just got to put his mind to it and compete."

Final Box Score /

Lodes didn't know at what point he'd get called into action on Sunday, but he made the most of potentially his last appearance in front of the home fans in Norman.

"It’s unreal. It’s good to be out there just having my guys behind my back," he said. "... Love it out there. Great atmosphere and I can’t complain."

Oklahoma (40-20) had already avoided elimination against Duke earlier Sunday before taking on the Huskies (34-24) on Sunday night. The winner of Monday night's game seven advances on to face No. 8 national seed Florida State next weekend in the Tallahassee Regional.

With the available arms dwindling, Johnson started Girton on the bump, but the OU right hander gave up a home run to Caleb Shpur in the first at-bat in the bottom of the first. 

The Huskies added another run courtesy of a Luke Broadhurst single, but Girton rung up a strikeout with the bases juiced to limit the damage. 

Oklahoma’s offense had Girton’s back in the second. 

Mudler chipped in his first RBI of the game via a single in the second inning, but John Spikerman flied out to strand a pair. 

Girton’s leadoff walk in the second signaled the end of his day, and it became the only run Lodes would allow until the eighth. 

"(Lodes) did a great job of picking up Girton," Johnson said. "Girton went out there and did the best he could. It’s all we asked of him, to give us an effort."

In the third, Michael Snyder battled through four foul balls before delivering for his team.  He finally straightened the ball out, crushing a two-run home run to left to level the game at 3-3. 

"It was really big for his confidence, for everyone else’s confidence in the dugout," Johnson said.

TIE BALL GAME @_michaelsnyder_ 💣 pic.twitter.com/nKlGwFTePB

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 3, 2024

Snyder's bomb seemed to steady Lodes, too, who only allowed one hit after that until the eighth inning.

"Putting up runs makes it a lot easier to pitch," Lodes said. "So appreciate Synder for getting a tie ballgame and then some big hits late."

The Sooners were then gifted a pair of baserunners courtesy of a walk and a hit batter, but Kendall Pettis grounded into a double play to stall the rally.  

Back on level terms, Lodes locked down the middle portion of the game. The Huskies registered just one hit across the third, fourth and fifth innings.

JETT FUEL 🛩️ @Jett__07 pic.twitter.com/Gf31A9F2TT

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 3, 2024

With the early deficit in the rearview, Oklahoma’s offense got back to work in the sixth. 

A pair of walks drawn by Pettis and Mudler loaded the bases and Spikerman stepped back in with two outs. 

The OU star couldn’t connect for his first hit of the game, however, bouncing back up the middle for an easy play for UConn shortstop Paul Tammaro, to strand the Oklahoma trio. 

Johnson’s Sooners finally cashed in on their chances in the eighth. 

First Mudler added a second RBI single before Madron appeared to drive three runs in with a two-out double. 

However, OU freshman pinch hitter Isaiah Lane was deemed to have missed third base while racing home from first, a call that was confirmed by replay review. It ended the inning but the Sooners still took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth. 

CLEAR 'EM, B-MAD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5W9G5IrMh8

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 3, 2024

Lodes dropped a popup in foul territory as he collided with Mudler near home plate, and Tyler Minick ensured that error was costly. 

The UConn designated hitter went yard on the next pitch, cutting OU’s advantage to 6-4 as the game rolled into the ninth. 

Oklahoma failed to add any insurance runs in the top half of the inning, so Johnson turned to Ryan Lambert to protect the two-run lead.

Lodes' seven innings was the longest outing of his college career, and he allowed only three hits and two walks.

Lambert coolly retired the Huskies in order, setting up a massive showdown between the two teams on Monday night. 

"It was really exciting to watch our fans," Johnson said, "and hopefully tomorrow we’ll have to hire the fire marshall to come out here and make sure to check everything. So, really proud of our team."