SoonerSports/University of Oklahoma
NORMAN – No. 16 Oklahoma continues a five-game homestand with a three-game series vs. CSUN at L. Dale Mitchell Park. Friday’s game is set for 4 p.m. CT before a 2 p.m. Saturday first pitch and 1 p.m. finale on Sunday. The series can be seen via SECN+ and heard in Oklahoma on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF or nationwide on The Varsity app with Chad McKee (Fri./Sat.), Toby Rowland (Sun.) and alums Blake Brewster (Fri.) and Kendall Pettis (Sat./Sun.) on the call.
THE BASICS
• The Sooners (8-0) are coming off a two-game midweek sweep of Texas Southern, outscoring the Tigers 20-8 including a 15-4 run-rule win on Tuesday. Last weekend, OU put together an impressive 3-0 showing at the Round Rock Classic, named the tournament champs after wins over Minnesota (3-2), No. 7 Oregon State (8-4) and No. 2 Virginia in 12 innings (5-4).
• Oklahoma is one of 13 unbeatens in the country and OU’s 8-0 start is the best since 2010 (10-0). The Sooners’ win over then-No. 2 UVA was OU’s highest-ranked victory since beating No. 1 Arkansas on March 16, 2021. OU won consecutive top-10 matchups last weekend (No. 7 Oregon State, No. 2 UVA) for the first time since beating No. 5 Texas Tech in back-to-back games in 2022.
• Oklahoma leaped from unranked to No. 16 in this week’s D1Baseball poll, the largest jump of any team in this week’s poll. The Sooners hold their highest ranking in the Perfect Game USA poll, vaulting to No. 12. OU is No. 25 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and unranked in Baseball America and NCBWA.
• This is just the second matchup all-time vs. CSUN, coached by 2003 OU alum and All-Big 12 infielder, Eddie Cornejo.
Oklahoma vs. CSUN
Date: Feb. 28-March 2
Times (CT): 4 p.m./2 p.m./1 p.m.
Location: Norman, Okla.
Arena: L. Dale Mitchell Park
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Game Notes
EARLY SEASON REWIND
• OU has started 8-0 for the first time since 2013. The Sooners opened the season with a three-game sweep of Lehigh before sweeping through the Round Rock Classic last weekend, highlighted by a pair of top-10 wins over No. 7 Oregon State (8-4) and No. 2 Virginia (5-4 [12 inn.]). This week, Oklahoma took two vs. Texas Southern.
• The Sooners are outscoring the opposition 72-25 and OU’s pitchers have struck out 84 batters in the early season, holding a 2.96 ERA. This season marks the first time in program history the Sooners have started a season 8-0 and held each opponent to five runs or less.
• RHP Kyson Witherspoon has lived up to his preseason hype with a 21-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just 12 innings pitched. The Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List honoree is 2-0 and struck out a career-high 12 batters last weekend vs. Minnesota. His 21 K’s ranks seventh in the country.
• Oklahoma met No. 7 Oregon State Saturday, beating the Beavers 8-4 to hand OSU their first loss of the season. After trailing 2-0 early, Oklahoma scored eight unanswered before Oregon State pushed across a pair in the eighth. The offense was powered by home runs from Scott Mudler and Easton Carmichael.
• The Sooners completed the Round Rock sweep with a top-five win over No. 2 Virginia in 12 innings Sunday evening. After trailing 3-0 through three innings, Oklahoma rallied to take the lead in the seventh before UVA tied it in the eighth to send the game to extras. Junior Dawson Willis laid down a bunt with runners in scoring position in the bottom of the 12th and after an errant throw, OU’s Brayden Horton raced home for the walk-off win. In nine innings of relief work, the Oklahoma bullpen surrendered one earned run on one hit with three walks and seven strikeouts.
• OU freshman Kyle Branch second baseman was named tournament MVP. The frosh hit .462 on the weekend (6-for-13) with a double, four RBIs and three runs scored, and made five putouts and three assists in the field, including a pair of pivotal diving stops. Branch came through with timely hitting numerous times on the weekend, registering a game-tying RBI single vs. Minnesota on Friday, a team-high three RBIs and three hits vs. OSU Saturday, and a pair of leadoff hits that led to runs scored vs. UVA in the finale. On the season, the Lucas, Texas, product is batting a team-high .452 with three extra-base hits and eight RBIs.
FOR THE FANS
• This weekend is Youth Weekend at L. Dale Mitchell Park with numerous family-friendly entertainment options at L. Dale Mitchell Park including Kid’s Club Day on Saturday featuring giveaways and more.
• Friday, as is every Friday, is happy hour from gates open (2:30 p.m.) up until first pitch where fans can get 16 oz. beers for $4.
• Sunday features the “Sooner Sunday 4 Pack” deal where fans can get four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and a popcorn all for $50.
• All weekend long, fans can take advantage of a flash sale on tickets in Section 405, OU’s newest seating option in 2025, a shaded patio in right field.
WITHERSPOON NAMED SEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
• Oklahoma junior right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon was named the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance last Friday vs. Minnesota at the Round Rock Classic.
• Witherspoon struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked none as the Sooners won their first game of the Round Rock Classic, 3-2, over Minnesota en route to a 3-0 weekend with top-10 wins over No. 7 Oregon State and No. 2 Virginia. Witherspoon hurled seven innings of one-run ball and allowed just three hits.
• After surrendering his first home run of the season on a leadoff homer in the first, Witherspoon proceeded to retire the next 13 batters faced, snapping the streak with a single in the fifth inning.
• The Preseason All-SEC Team selection has a 2-0 record and 21 strikeouts in the early season in 12.0 innings pitched to go with a 2.25 ERA (3 ER) and just two walks. The Jacksonville, Fla., product has at least six K’s in nine of his last 10 starts dating back to last season.
• The honor is Oklahoma’s first SEC weekly baseball award in program history and Witherspoon’s first career weekly accolade.
THE NUMBERS
• The Sooner pitching staff was heralded throughout the preseason for its talent and potential heading into 2025. OU’s weekend rotation of Kyson Witherspoon (Friday), Malachi Witherspoon (Saturday) and Cameron Johnson (Sunday) is off to a hot start, with Kyson collecting two wins in two starts and Malachi and Cam Johnson each earning one win.
• OU’s deep bullpen has been impressive early, surrendering just 13 runs with a 46-to-16 K/BB ratio. The Sooners have utilized 11 bullpen arms so far in 2025. Senior Dylan Crooks looks to take on the closer role, already earning two saves in three appearances, striking out five in five innings of work.
• In the batter’s box, freshman Kyle Branch has started his collegiate career on a tear, batting .452 with eight RBIs. Returning NCBWA All-American Easton Carmichael paces OU with 10 RBIs and is tied with sophomore shortstop Jaxon Willits for the team lead in home runs with three each. Redshirt sophomore transfer Sam Christiansen has impressed early, ranking second on the team with a .450 batting average to go with one home run and a team-high 15 walks that ranks third in the nation. His 1.88 BB/game is currently first in the NCAA.
• As an offense, the Sooners rank in the top 20 in the country in batting average (19th, .335), on-base percentage (14th, .460), slugging (13th, .564) and stolen bases (16th, 22).
RANKINGS CHATTER
• The Sooners made the biggest jump of any team in the country in this week’s D1Baseball poll, leaping to No. 16 after previously being unranked. In the Perfect Game poll, OU holds its highest ranking (No. 12). The Sooners are 25th in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and are receiving votes in the NCBWA poll, and unranked in Baseball America’s top 25.
• The Sooners are 2-0 in ranked matchups in 2025 after going 4-1 in such games throughout the regular season in 2024, with all four wins coming against top-15 opponents.
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
• Junior right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon has collected several preseason honors entering the 2025 season, including preseason All-America nods from four different outlets: Baseball America (second team), D1 Baseball (second team), NCBWA (second team) and Perfect Game (first team).
• Witherspoon was also named to the Preseason All-SEC Team as a second team selection. He was one of nine starting pitchers named to the first or second teams.
• Witherspoon and junior catcher Easton Carmichael were both named to the 2025 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. The award, given annually to the best amateur baseball player in the nation, announced the 55-player watch list last week. Oklahoma was tied for second with two players on the list.
• The Sooners were picked to finish 11th in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll by the conference’s 16 head coaches. Texas A&M was predicted to win the 2025 conference crown, while five different schools received first place votes.
For updates and more information on Oklahoma baseball, follow the Sooners on X/Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.
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