By Kaden Boyd
The Sooners are HOT in the thick of the season winning yet another Big 12 series. The Sooners, now at a 14-4 conference record, have impressively swept four conference series, a first since the Big 12 began in 1996, placing them at the top of the standings.
Thursday:
The Sooners delivered a strong performance led by left-handed pitcher Braden Davis, who nearly matched his career-high with 11 strikeouts over 6.1 innings. This stellar pitching helped OU secure a 10-run game on 12 hits, advancing them to first place in the Big 12 with their 12th conference win.
Early in the game, Oklahoma capitalized on an error by BYU, setting the stage for senior Anthony Mackenzie to drive in the first run with a single to left, following hits by sophomore Easton Carmichael and redshirt senior Michael Snyder. The Sooners continued to build on their lead in the fourth inning with a two-run single from freshman Jaxon Willits, making it a 6-0 game by the middle of the inning. Despite BYU narrowing the gap to 6-3 with a solo home run and two RBI singles, Davis held strong, retiring multiple batters in succession.
Further extending their lead, Oklahoma added two more runs in the seventh inning after Bryce Madron walked and Carmichael singled, facilitated by Mackenzie’s ground ball that led to an overthrow on a pickoff attempt, allowing Snyder to score. Davis concluded his day with a win, improving his record to 4-3, supported by relievers Reid Hensley, Carson Atwood, and Malachi Witherspoon, who together maintained the lead.
BYU managed to score two runs in the eighth, but the Sooners responded in the ninth with two additional runs following a BYU error and an RBI single by Kendall Pettis. A late rally attempt by BYU brought three runs in, but Witherspoon secured the final out, sealing the win for Oklahoma.
Offensively, both Carmichael and Snyder had impressive games, each recording three hits. This marked Carmichael's fifth consecutive multi-hit game and Snyder’s third in four games. Both players, along with Mackenzie and Willits, were key in driving in multiple runs throughout the contest.
Friday:
The game began with BYU taking an early lead with a home run in the first inning. However, Oklahoma responded swiftly when Michael Snyder smashed a solo home run in the second inning, his eighth of the season, to even the score. Witherspoon then impressively navigated a no-out, bases-loaded situation to keep BYU from scoring further.
The third inning passed quietly, but the Sooners broke the game open in the fourth, piling on seven runs. Hits by Anthony Mackenzie and Kendall Pettis drove in runs, and Jason Walk’s double added two more before Easton Carmichael capped the rally with a two-run homer. Despite BYU's attempt to rally with two runs, the Sooners continued their offensive showcase.
Bryce Madron matched Snyder’s home run tally with his eighth of the season in the seventh inning. Oklahoma padded their lead further in the eighth, pushing the score to 12-6. Closing out the game, Ryan Lambert and relievers Carter Campbell and Dylan Crooks efficiently shut down BYU, securing the victory.
The Sooners maintained their impressive scoring streak, marking the seventh time in ten games they've scored in double digits, a testament to their explosive offense. This performance underscores their dominant presence this season, especially given BYU's prior record of surrendering 10-plus runs only five times this year.
Saturday:
Bryce Madron had a standout performance, hitting two homers and a double to drive in a personal-best seven runs, the highest by a Sooner since 2010.
The team kicked off the scoring early, amassing three runs in the first inning. Freshman Jason Walk hit a leadoff double, setting the stage for Madron's two-run homer to right center. Michael Snyder and Anthony Mackenzie then contributed doubles, quickly putting the Sooners up 3-0. BYU responded in the bottom half with two runs, but Madron's second two-run homer in the second inning restored the Sooners' lead. It was his first game with back-to-back homers and his second multi-home run game.
The game was tied at five after BYU rallied in the second inning, but OU’s left-handed pitcher Grant Stevens managed to leave two runners stranded, minimizing the damage. Oklahoma edged ahead again in the fifth with three runs, highlighted by another Madron double. While BYU managed to score in the fifth and ninth, OU maintained their lead and finalized the score at 10-7.
OU relied on a six-pitcher lineup to secure the win. Senior Jett Lodes earned his first win of the season, delivering two scoreless innings with minimal hits. The bullpen, including James Hitt, Carson Atwood, Jace Miner, and Malachi Witherspoon, contributed significantly, with Hitt recording three strikeouts.
Madron's exceptional 3-for-4 outing was supported by multi-hit games from Snyder and freshman Isaiah Lane. The Sooners are now gearing up for a four-game homestand at L. Dale Mitchell Park, starting with a matchup against Wichita State. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., broadcast on SoonerVision via ESPN+. They will then host Texas in a highly anticipated series from April 26-28.
