No. 16 Sooners Open CSUN Series with Shutout

Friday, February 28

4 p.m. CT

University of Oklahoma

9-0

CSUN

2-5

CSUN

Oklahoma

No. 16 Sooners Open CSUN Series with Shutout

February 28, 2025 | Baseball

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NORMAN — No. 16 Oklahoma opened the three-game series vs. CSUN with a 9-0 shutout Friday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

OU starting right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon and relievers James Hitt, Gavyn Jones and Reid Hensley combined on the shutout, OU's first of the season after throwing six a season ago.

The Sooners improved to 9-0 on the year, continuing the program's best start since a 10-0 start to the 2013 season.

Witherspoon continued his impressive start to his junior campaign, striking out seven in six innings pitched, surrendering no runs and just five hits and one walk. The reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week has a 28-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2025.

The offense was sparked early by a leadoff home run from sophomore Jason Walk, his first of the season and fourth of his career. The solo blast was the only run of the contest until the fourth inning when OU pushed across a pair. After a single from junior Trey Gambill, fellow junior Easton Carmichael brought him home with his second triple of the season up the alley in right field. Two batters later, Carmichael raced home on a double play to bring the score to 3-0, Sooners.

The Sooners brought in six across the sixth and seventh innings, starting with a two-run sixth on a pair of RBI singles from redshirt sophomore Sam Christiansen and junior Dayton Tockey.

In the seventh, OU plated four runs on just one hit. After Walk and sophomore Jaxon Willits drew walks and stole a pair of bags, Walk was able to sprint home on a wild pitch. Two batters later with the bases loaded, freshman Kyle Branch ripped a bases-clearing double to left field to bring the final to 9-0.

Hitt, Jones and Hensley all went an inning each with Hitt striking out the side in the seventh. Jones surrendered one hit while striking out one and walking one. Hensley closed the game in the ninth, retiring the Matadors (2-5) in order with one strikeout.

Carmichael, Branch and Tockey all recorded multi-hit games while six Sooners recorded hits in the game and five brought in a run. Branch paced OU with three RBIs.

The teams meet for the second game of the three-game set on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. The game can be seen via SECN+ and heard in Oklahoma on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF or nationwide on The Varsity Network app.

Tickets are available via SoonerSports.com/tickets. New in 2025 is Section 405, the right field patio seating option, with flash sale tickets starting at $10 for this weekend's series.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma baseball, follow the Sooners on Twitter/X and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.