OU Baseball: Oklahoma Drops Series Rubber Match Against California Baptist

NORMAN – A tough way to open the new campaign.

After dropping the middle game of their season-opening series against California Baptist on Saturday, Oklahoma returned to action for the rubber match of the three-game set on Sunday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman.

Similarly to the second contest of the weekend, the Sooners struggled to string hits together and had some late bullpen issues as they fell to the Lancers 6-3 to drop the series.

Getting the ball for Skip Johnson’s club was right-hander Braxton Douthit, who showed flashes in an overall uneven OU debut.

The Lamar transfer worked just four innings allowing four hits and three earned runs while also walking three batters and striking out another three.

"He had three walks in four innings that ran his pitch count up," Johnson said of Douthit's day. "They (CBU) are a good, veteran team and they laid off some good pitches - and he made some good pitches when he had to."

He finished his afternoon with a no-decision.

For the third consecutive day, it would be the Lancers getting on the board first striking for two runs in the third inning on a two-out, two-run double from first baseman Jake Skipworth.

The Sooners would, however, get one of those two runs right back with right fielder Bryce Madron smashing his first home run in an OU uniform over the right field fence.

𝐁𝐫𝐲𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧 goes 𝐲𝐚𝐫𝐝 for his first Sooner home run ☄️

💻 » https://t.co/1ScGDvzsJU #COMPETE | #CHAOUS pic.twitter.com/ThIKTBI3fK
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) February 19, 2023

CBU extended their advantage back to two runs the following half inning, with center fielder Julian Alvarez lofting a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 3-1 game.

That remained the score until the bottom of the sixth, when Oklahoma pulled the game even on an RBI triple from second baseman Jackson Nicklaus and a run-scoring chopper single from shortstop Dakota Harris.

Creating some #CHAOUS

💻 » https://t.co/rBGRTc7ed0 #COMPETE pic.twitter.com/43en2i3bmQ
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) February 19, 2023

Heading into the late innings, it was a brand new ballgame at 3-3.

After left-hander Carter Campbell worked a scoreless seventh inning, his third shutout frame in relief, the Sooners turned to right-hander Aaron Calhoun in the eighth.

"That's his strength that we can give the ball to him know that he's going to at least throw strikes and be competitive," Johnson said about Campbell.

Calhoun, who was dominant in Friday's win, didn't have his best stuff his second appearance of the season as he gave up a single and walk before serving up a titanic three-run blast to the CBU designated hitter Josiah Chavez.

"I thought AC (Calhoun) would bounce back, that's a learning thing for us," Johnson said. "He didn't bounce back. His velocity was really good early, and then all of a sudden it just dropped really fast."

Suddenly, the Lancers held a 6-3 lead needing just six more outs to take the series.

CBU right-hander Ryan Delgado would oblige on those outs, recording the next six in order to end the game.

The loss drops Oklahoma down to 1-2 as they lose their first series of the 2023 season.

Fortunately for the Sooners, they won't have to dwell on the loss long as OU returns right back to action on Monday afternoon hosting Air Force for a one-game midweek bout at 3 p.m. back at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

"The weekend doesn't define who you are," Johnson said. "That's why you play the baseball game. Tomorrow we'll wake up at 0-0. We're going to find out what we're made of and what our make up is."