No. 5 LSU holds off No. 9 Oklahoma, sweeps series
No. 5 LSU holds off No. 9 Oklahoma, sweeps series
The No. 9 Oklahoma baseball team probably won't be the No. 9 baseball team when the new set of USA Today Coaches Poll rankings come out Monday.
OU lost to LSU, 3-2, on Saturday and was swept in the weekend Southeastern Conference series. This is the first time the Sooners have been swept this year.
Oklahoma had its chance to salvage Saturday's finale. Dasan Harris hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to pull OU within a run, and Jason Walk followed with a walk on four pitches to move Harris into scoring position. But Trey Gambill flew out to center, ending things.
The Sooners left runners at second and third base in the second inning, at first and third in the third inning, at third base in the fifth inning, and at second base in the eighth inning. LSU pitchers Chase Shores and Zac Cowan walked more OU batters, six, than they allowed hits, five, creating the trouble.
Defense didn't help matters, either, as LSU scored two of its three runs unearned. Derek Curiel hit a ground ball to Oklahoma second baseman Kyle Branch with two outs in the second inning, but the ball went through Branch's legs. Luis Hernandez and Tanner Reaves each scored on the play. Curiel picked up a proper RBI in the fourth inning on a double.
Both of OU's runs were unearned against LSU pitchers, too. Jaxon Willits scored on a passed ball in the second and Brayden Horton scored on Harris' single in the ninth after reaching on an error.
Malachi Witherspoon was tagged with the loss as he gave up all three runs, only the one earned, on five hits and three walks over his six innings. Shores pitched five innings in collecting the win for the Tigers.
The Sooners are back at L. Dale Mitchell Park all next week. They host No. 19 Dallas Baptist on Wednesday, then will settle in for a three-game set against No. 20 Vanderbilt.
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