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Oklahoma needed a huge offensive inning to do it, but the Sooners finished off a tough series sweep of Sam Houston on Sunday.
OU scored seven runs in the fourth to rally from a four-run deficit and beat the Bearkats 9-7 in their seven-inning nightcap of a doubleheader at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
"That was a big win for us right there, because it just shows them that they can do it when they play with the passion," OU coach Skip Johnson said on the postgame radio show. "You know, that's why I told the coaches at the end, that's a big win, because we came back. We know we can come back now."
No. 12-ranked OU improved to 14-1, while Sam Houston fell to 3-12.
Oklahoma took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Trey Gambill walked, stole second and third and scored on Jaxon Willits’ sacrifice fly to center field.
The Bearkats tied it in the next frame as OU starter Malachi Witherspoon allowed a walk to Jace Martinez and a single by Brady Christensen that sent Martinez to third. Martinez then came home on a wild pitch from Witherspoon to make it 1-1.
Sam Houston jumped in front on back-to-back sac flies by Hunter Autrey and Ryan Brandon to score Easton Dean and Parker Blackman, respectively.
The damage continued as Sam Houston scored two more in the fourth.
After Witherspoon got two quick strikeouts, he plunked Addison Smith, and Dean followed with a two-run home run down the right field line to put the Bearkats up 5-1.
Witherspoon went just 3 2/3 innings and gave up five earned runs on four walks and five hits.
The Sooners launched their decisive rally in the fourth as seven consecutive batters reached on five hits and two walks — part of 12 batters coming to the plate in the inning.
Kyle Branch drew a one-out walk, and Drew Dickerson flared a single to right-center field as Branch hustled to third. Scott Mudler then beat out an infield single to first for an RBI that scored Branch and cut it to 5-2.
After a pitching change, Dawson Willis ripped a double to left to score Dickerson, and Jason Walk singled through the right side to score Mudler and Willis and tie it up at 5-5.
Following another Gambill walk, Easton Carmichael’s sharp single through the right side scored Walk to put the Sooners up 6-5.
Martinez dropped Willits’ hard shot at shortstop but still got the out, allowing Gambill to score for a 7-5 lead, and Sam Christiansen’s single up the middle plated Carmichael for an 8-5 Oklahoma lead.
The seven runs matched Oklahoma's season high for a single inning this year.
Gavyn Jones relieved Witherspoon and got out of trouble in the fourth, then pitched around a pair of singles in the fifth.
Jason Bodin came in to work the sixth for OU, but that move nearly imploded as Sam Houston rallied again.
Smith started with a single, and after Bodin got a strikeout and a groundout, Autrey and Franden singled as Smith scored to cut it to 8-6.
Then, as Franden stole second base, it appeared Autrey would be caught in a rundown between third and home, but he scored when Willis’ throw hit him in the back, making it 8-7.
But with runners on first and third, OU’s Christiansen caught a deep fly ball by SH’s Christensen’s at the base of the right field wall to end the rally.
In the bottom of the sixth, Carmichael hammered a 2-1 pitch for a long home run to left to extend the Sooners’ lead to 9-7. It was his team-leading fifth homer and 17th RBI of the season.
"Any time you can get offense rolling like we did is huge, especially going into a big week coming forward," Carmichael said on the postgame radio show. "But it's one of those that we knew it was bound to happen. It's just a matter of time."
In the top of the seventh, Dylan Crooks gave up a single but then logged a fly ball and two strikeouts to end it.
Carmichael was 3-for-3 with two RBIs, Walk was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and Willits had two RBIs without a hit. Dickerson went 2-for-3 at the plate.
It’s been a memorable start to the season for Johnson’s squad, but now the stakes are turned up as Southeastern Conference play begins next weekend.
After hosting Louisiana Tech (9-7) on Wednesday night, the Sooners hit the road to open SEC play at South Carolina. The Gamecocks (14-3) are currently unranked but the SEC features teams ranked No. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19 in this week’s USA Today Coaches’ Top 25.
South Carolina won back-to-back national championships in 2010 and 2011 and was CWS runner-up in 2002 and 2012, but has failed to win 40 games in seven of their last nine full seasons while making five NCAA Tournaments in the last 10 years.
"Yeah, it's going to be a blast," Carmichael said, "especially going to Columbia."
The Sooners will play an SEC series each of the next 10 weekends.
More must-reads:
- Week 9 fantasy football takeaways: Rico Dowdle makes a statement
- Three offseason trade targets for Blue Jays to add an impact bat
- The 'TDs from Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes' quiz
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Three offseason trade targets for Blue Jays to add an impact bat
The Toronto Blue Jays and their fans are fresh off the most heartbreaking loss in franchise history. Putting the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers on the brink of elimination with two cracks to win the World Series at home, only to lose two nail-biters that each came down to the final out. It’s going to take a long time to get over it, if that’s even possible to do. However, they'll have to turn the page rather quickly because in just three days, the negotiating window for free agents expires, and all are free to sign wherever they so choose. Toronto will be busy in an attempt to retain the likes of star shortstop Bo Bichette and starting pitchers Shane Bieber, Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer. At the same time, the front office must be active in improving its roster from the outside, whether that’s via free agency or trade. While there are some intriguing names for the Blue Jays to target on the open market, given their needs, heading down the trade route could make the most sense. Here are three ideal trade targets for the Toronto Blue Jays to add an impactful left-handed bat to their lineup for 2025-26 and beyond: Oneil Cruz | Pittsburgh Pirates Cruz’s name popped up in trade rumors ahead of the deadline in August, and it’s fair to wonder if he still could be available if Pittsburgh gets the right offer. The 27-year-old has all of the tools to be one of the best hitters in baseball, standing at 6-foot-7, 240 pounds with extreme power and bat speed. His numbers last season (20 HRs, 61 RBI), while solid, didn't reflect his talent, but it's understandable given the lack of protection around him on the Pirates. In Toronto, Cruz could slot in behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bichette, immediately becoming the most dangerous left-handed hitter in a right-heavy lineup. Matt Wallner | Minnesota Twins The 39th overall pick back in 2019 may not publicly be on the trade block, but after its sell-off at the deadline, it doesn’t feel like anyone is untouchable in Minnesota. Like Cruz, Wallner, at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, has big-time power, and the Blue Jays saw that firsthand when he crushed three HRs and six RBI during their three-game series in Toronto in late August. He does have some swing and miss in his bat (.231 career average), but with how often the top of the Blue Jays lineup gets on base, all it takes is one swing for Wallner to put up a crooked number on the scoreboard. Jarren Duran | Boston Red Sox The 2024 All-Star Game MVP has been in constant trade discussions for over a year now, and it feels inevitable that he gets dealt out of Boston this winter. Duran had more of an up-and-down 2025 campaign, though he's displayed the ability to drive in runs (84 RBI) and has power with even more untapped potential. Combine that with his speed and athleticism, and you can see why so many teams would love to acquire him. Trading within the division is never easy, but the 29-year-old would be a perfect fit in the middle of Toronto's lineup, so it's something they should absolutely look into.
NY Giants Trade Deadline 2025: Rumors, Musings, and Separating Fact from Fiction
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Yet when it counts, the team has continued to pass over Hyatt, more recently for undrafted free agent Beaux Collins, and veterans like Lil’Jordan Humphry and Ray-Ray McCloud. So it was kind of interesting to see Hyatt, who has never played on special teams in the NFL, get snaps on the kickoff return unit, a role Hyatt told me he hadn’t done since high school. Hyatt returned four kickoffs for 111 yards (27.8 avg.) and had a long of 33. The decision to put him on kickoff returns over McCloud, who has actually done it more often at the NFL level, leaves one to wonder if the Giants are maybe looking to show the rest of the league that the receiver that the Giants traded up to get in the third round has a little more value in a potential trade.
The '2024-25 NFL TD catch leaders' quiz
The NFL’s Week 9 schedule concludes tonight with an NFC matchup between the 2-5 Arizona Cardinals and the 3-4-1 Dallas Cowboys, but despite the records, there could be plenty of fireworks on ‘Monday Night Football.’ Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. could especially be in for a big night even with Jacoby Brissett starting once again in place of the injured Kuler Murray. The Cowboys defense has allowed the third-most passing yards-per-game and has surrendered 20 passing touchdowns through their first seven games. This could be the remedy to a Cardinals offense that Harrison Jr.’s dad – Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr. – described as “very hard to watch.” Which brings us to today’s quiz. Harrison Jr. was selected fourth-overall in the 2024 NFL draft, and while he’s dealt with issues dropping catchable passes early in his career, he still led Arizona with eight touchdown catches as a rookie. With that being said, can you name the players with the most touchdown receptions in the 2024-25 NFL season? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
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