OU Opens SEC Play with Win at South Carolina

Friday, March 14

Columbia, S.C.

6 p.m. CT

University of Oklahoma

16-1, 1-0

South Carolina

15-4, 0-1

Oklahoma

South Carolina

OU Opens SEC Play with Win at South Carolina

March 14, 2025 | Baseball

Box Score Final Stats Highlights Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 12 Oklahoma opened SEC play with an 8-5 win Friday night at South Carolina.

The Sooner offense hit three home runs on the night while starting right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon turned in another quality night on the mound with seven strikeouts. The win marked OU's 11th consecutive series-opening victory dating back to last season.

Oklahoma (16-1, 1-0 SEC) jumped on top early with four straight hits to start the game, leading to four runs in the first. Junior Easton Carmichael, sophomore Jaxon Willits, freshman Kyle Branch and junior Dayton Tockey all brought across runs to make it 4-0 before Witherspoon went to the mound in the home half.

Witherspoon worked four straight scoreless innings to start the game, striking out the side in the second. OU added one run at the top of the fourth on sophomore Dasan Harris' first collegiate home run on a solo shot to right center.

The Gamecocks (15-4, 0-1 SEC) broke up the shutout in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI groundout before the Sooners punched back with a pair at the top of the sixth.

A leadoff home run from Tockey to left center started the flurry, his second of the year and first since opening day. Carmichael knocked in sophomore Jason Walk with a two-out single to push OU's lead to 7-1.

South Carolina scored four runs on four hits in the home half of the sixth. After Witherspoon exited with two men on, the Gamecocks put together a rally with a trio of RBI singles. OU reliever Jason Bodin entered with two outs and left a pair on base to limit the damage and keep OU up a pair.

OU junior Dawson Willis provided some insurance at the top of the eighth on a deep solo home run to left field. It was the third baseman's second home run of the season, both coming within the last four games.

Bodin worked a scoreless seventh and eighth before Sooner closer Dylan Crooks entered in the ninth and retired the side to collect his SEC-leading sixth save of the season.

At the plate, the Sooners recorded 11 hits with three Sooners registering multi-hit games. Carmichael and Tockey brought in a pair to pace OU in RBIs.

On the mound, Witherspoon (W, 5-0) went 5.1 innings and struck out seven, surrendering three runs on six hits with one walk. Relievers James Hitt (0.1), Bodin (2.1) and Crooks (1.0) combined to close, with Crooks fanning one.

The teams meet for the second game of the series Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. The series can be seen via SECN+ and heard in Oklahoma on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF or nationwide on The Varsity Network app with Toby Rowland on the call.

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