Sooners Force Rubber Match with Friday Win at LSU

Friday, March 20

Baton Rouge, LA

6:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

18-5, 3-2

LSU

16-8, 2-3

Oklahoma

LSU

Sooners Force Rubber Match with Friday Win at LSU

March 20, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Highlights

BATON ROUGE, La. — No. 8 Oklahoma evened the series in Baton Rouge Friday evening, beating LSU 4-2 to force a decisive game three Saturday afternoon.

OU starting right-handed pitcher LJ Mercurius earned his fifth win of the season on the mound, going 5.1 innings and striking out seven while allowing two runs on four hits with two walks.

OU's bullpen of Jason Bodin (1.1 IP), Kadyn Leon (1.1) and Jackson Cleveland (1.0) did not allow a run and combined for just three hits to go with six strikeouts. Cleveland earned his fourth save of the season in the ninth, forcing a game-ending double play.

Following a scoreless first, LSU (16-8, 2-3 SEC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo home run. OU (18-5, 3-2) would score the game's next three runs via a Jason Walk RBI single, wild pitch that allowed Jaxon Willits to race home and an RBI single from Trey Gambill.

LSU responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the game to a one-run contest. With the bases loaded in the seventh, Leon forced a fly out to left field to end the Tiger threat. OU added an insurance run at the top of the ninth via Gambill's single after a double to left from Kyle Branch.

The Tigers would put the tying run on base in the ninth but another double play ended the game and forced Saturday's 2 p.m. CT rubber match.

Pitchers of Record

Win: LJ Mercurius (5-1)
Loss: Cooper Moore (3-3)
Save: Jackson Cleveland (4)

Statistical Snapshot

Trey Gambill | 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Jaxon Willits | 2-for-4, 1 R
Nolan Stevens | 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 R
Kyle Branch | 1-for-2, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 R
LJ Mercurius | 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
Jason Bodin | 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Jackson Cleveland | 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 S

Notes

OU improved to 18-5 on the season and 3-2 in SEC play with the win. It was the Sooners' first true road win of the season.
It was OU's first win in Baton Rouge since 1989 (sixth meeting at LSU since '89).
After not having an extra base hit in two straight games, OU had two on Friday and has registered at least one in 21 of 23 games.
The Sooner pitching staff struck out 13 batters on the day, the 15th game of 23 this season that the staff has struck out 10-plus. It was the second most K's in a game this season for the Tigers.
LJ Mercurius struck out seven on the night and went over five innings. The righty has at least six strikeouts in all five of his starts and has gone at least five innings in all five.
OU tied a season high with two double plays on the night. The Sooners did not commit an error on defense for the seventh time this season.
Jackson Cleveland earned his team-leading fourth save of the season in the ninth.
Nolan Stevens hit his first double of the season in the third inning.

Up Next

OU concludes its series vs. the Tigers Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on SECN+ and heard on 99.3 FM/1400 AM The REF with Toby Rowland on the call.

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