Why OU baseball's Braden Davis has pitched himself into ace role for first-place Sooners
NORMAN — OU baseball started its three-game home series against Texas as one of college baseball’s hottest teams with nine consecutive wins.
The weekend ended with a 1-2 showing against its arch rival at home after a hour and 17-minute lightning delay ultimately canceled Sunday’s second game, resulting in a loss. The Sooners are still in first place in the Big 12 and were projected to host a regional in last week’s Baseball America field of 68 projection.
The Sooners did tumble to No. 23 in this week's USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll.
OU’s bats struggled to produce enough offense to overcome the Longhorns. And outside of Braden Davis’ dominant showing in front of a single-game L. Dale Mitchell Park record 4,812 fans Friday night, OU’s pitching staff fell apart on Sunday.
Kyson Witherspoon surrendered five runs in 5 ⅓ innings, while Grant Stevens gave up six runs on seven hits in just 2 ⅔ innings.
The Sooners’ offense started the week slow as they finished with just three hits against Wichita State on April 23. Head coach Skip Johnson’s group has a chance to get back on track this week with a midweek matchup at Oral Roberts and a road series against Texas Tech.
More: OU baseball drops doubleheader vs. Texas in 'unfortunate' ending
No. 23 OU
Overall record: 26-16, 15-6 Big 12 (first)
Last week: 2-2 (beat Wichita State 3-1; beat Texas 9-4; fell to Texas 8-6, 12-10)
This week: at Oral Roberts, 6 p.m. Tuesday; at Texas Tech, 6:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN+, 2 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+ and 2 p.m. Sunday on ESPN+
OU baseball player of the week
Braden Davis, junior left-handed pitcher: OU’s clear bright spot again last week was Davis. The lefty tossed nine strikeouts in six innings Friday night en route to winning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors. He allowed just one run on seven hits and walked three. In his last 12 ⅓ innings, he’s allowed just four runs and struck out 20 opposing hitters. The Sam Houston State transfer is expected to be the Sooners’ Friday night/Game 1 starter down the stretch and into the postseason. Davis’ ERA is down to 4.97 from 6.30 after a string of solid outings on the mound. Davis was named the Big 12's Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
OU baseball player on the rise
Kendall Pettis, redshirt senior outfielder: Not normally known for his hitting prowess, Kendall Pettis was one of the most productive players at the plate for OU last week. In Friday night’s win over Texas, he finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. In the second game of a doubleheader Sunday, Pettis was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI. He also walked once.
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OU baseball stat to know
9: OU’s 8-6 loss to Texas Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader was its first loss since April 7. It snapped a nine-game win streak.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU baseball pitcher Braden Davis bright spot in Texas series loss
