How OU baseball's Easton Carmichael continued impressive play in weekend sweep of UCF

NORMAN — OU opened Big 12 play with an impressive three-game sweep of UCF last weekend in L. Dale Mitchell Park.

The Sooners defeated the Knights 4-3 and 11-3 during a doubleheader Saturday and 14-2 in a run-rule win on Sunday, outscoring them 29-8 across three games.

OU recorded 18 hits in its dominating victory Sunday and hit three three-run home runs, including sophomore catcher Easton Carmichael’s three-run blast to walk it off in seven innings.

UCF entered the weekend 9-1 with wins over then-No. 4 Florida and Miami. OU baseball coach Skip Johnson’s team also defeated Wichita State 5-3 last Tuesday, which entered the contest 7-3.

Here is a look back at last week:

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Oklahoma

• Overall record: 9-5

• Last week: 4-0 (Beat Wichita State 5-3, beat UCF 4-3, 11-3, 14-2 (7 inn.)

• This week: vs. Oklahoma State, 6 p.m. Tuesday; vs. UT Arlington, 6 p.m. Wednesday; vs. TCU, 6:30 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday

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Top Oklahoma player last week

Easton Carmichael, sophomore designated hitter: I tried to pick a different Sooners player for my top player pick this week, but Carmichael’s hot start to 2024 has yet to cool. He finished last week with two home runs, eight total hits and eight RBIs to earn Big 12 Co-Player of the Week honors. He leads OU with a .472 batting average and continues to come through for the program in clutch moments. He was 6 for 10 from the plate against the Knights alone.

Oklahoma player on the rise

Michael Snyder, redshirt senior infielder: Washington transfer Michael Snyder is also a player that keeps exciting. He registered four hits and seven RBIs last week and crushed a no-doubter over the left field fence on Sunday. Snyder was 4 for 11 at the plate against UCF and is hitting .375 in 48 total at-bats this season.

Nonconference Bedlam

OU will play a nonconference Bedlam matchup with Oklahoma State on Tuesday. The Cowboys are 10-6 and are coming off a series win over Mercer last weekend. The Sooners are chasing their fifth consecutive win and will play their first of four games against OSU this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at L. Dale Mitchell Park on ESPN+.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU baseball: Easton Carmichael gives Sooners some momentum for Bedlam