Oklahoma ace Kyson Witherspoon was exceptional in the win, going seven innings of one-run ball and scattering five hits to go with eight strikeouts to two walks. Junior Dayton Tockey had a career day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs before exiting in the eighth due to an injury sustained sliding into second.
Oklahoma (30-11, 11-8 SEC) struck first at the top of the second. Freshman Kyle Branch, facing off against his brother and UGA shortstop Kolby for the first time in their careers, registered OU’s first hit of the game on a single to left. The next batter, Tockey, ripped his first of two home runs to left to give OU a 2-0 lead through two.
Witherspoon surrendered just his fourth home run of the season in the third inning to fellow USA Collegiate National Team teammate and UGA designated hitter Tre Phelps. The solo shot proved to be the only run surrendered by the OU righty.
A pair of scoreless innings ensued until OU put up three runs on two hits and a Georgia (33-11, 10-9 SEC) error in the sixth. A fielder’s choice RBI for sophomore Jason Walk brought home Easton Carmichael after the junior hit a leadoff double. Two batters later, Tockey launched his second homer of the contest over the scoreboard in right field. The junior joined Carmichael as the only Sooners with multi-home run games this season.
The eighth inning saw a combined seven runs scored by both squads. OU put up a three-spot at the top of the inning on three hits and one Georgia error. Tockey plated his career-high fifth run of the contest, bringing home Walk. With two outs, junior Trey Gambill batted in pinch runner Brandon Cain after Tockey exited. Also scoring on the play via error was Dawson Willis after the junior drew a walk and scored from first.
The Bulldogs scored four runs on four hits and one OU error in the home half of the eighth. After loading the bases on OU reliever James Hitt, UGA first baseman Ryland Zaborowski cleared the bases with a three-run double to left. Two batters later, left fielder Nolan McCarthy brought in UGA’s fourth run of the frame on a single to right. Sophomore RHP Jason Bodin entered for the Sooners and collected the third out to strand one.
UGA scored one in the ninth on a two-out single to right from Kyle’s brother, Kolby Branch, before OU right-handed closer Dylan Crooks stranded him with a strikeout to end the game. Crooks collected his 10th save on the season.
The Sooners claimed their sixth ranked win of the season and fifth straight road victory.
Tockey paced OU at the plate with career highs in hits (4), home runs (2) and RBIs (5). Branch chipped in a 2-for-5 showing, while Gambill and Walk plated one each with Gambill finishing 2-for-3 with two walks drawn.
Hitt, Bodin and Crooks combined to finish the game on the mound for OU with Hitt fanning one to Crooks two.
The teams turn around for a noon CT game two on Friday after weather pushed the game up from its originally-scheduled 5 p.m. start time. The game can be seen via SECN+ and heard on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF in Oklahoma or nationwide on The Varsity Network app.
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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