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Oklahoma's Big 12 Revenge Tour Continues with Bedlam Blowout

The Sooners opened the season in Arlington by crushing Texas Tech and OSU, and now TCU is up next.
John Hoover|
Oklahoma OF Trey Gambill
Oklahoma OF Trey Gambill | Carson Field, Sooners on SI

Another high profile game against a former Big 12 Conference rival, another impressive win for Skip Johnson's Oklahoma ballclub.

Trey Gambill had three hits, including a home run, and LJ Mercurius struck out 12 in Oklahoma’s 10-1 Bedlam victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday night of the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.

The No. 19-ranked Sooners improved to 2-0 this season as Mercurius, a junior right-hander from UNLV, was dominant in 5 1/3 innings, giving up just one run on three hits against two walks.

HIs debut followed an equally dominating opener from lefty Cameron Johnson, who struck out 11 in Friday’s 10-3 victory over Texas Tech.

In all, OU pitchers collected 17 strikeouts against the Cowboys (0-2).

Gambill, a senior, homered for the second straight game, one of five extra base hits for the Sooners. Gambill went 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs.

Brendan Brock was 3-for-4 with a double and scored three times, while Jaxon Willits went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. First baseman Dayton Tockey went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Freshmen Alec Blair and Connor Larkin made their collegiate debuts with Blair registering his first hit on an RBI single in the eighth. In Friday’s win over the Red Raiders, Brock went 2-for-4 with a homer while Tockey also homered and Camden Johnson went 2-for-4 at the plate and also stole a base.

Sophomore Michael Catalano relieved Mercurius in the sixth, making his first appearance of the season and striking out four to tie his career best. Senior righty Reid Hensley finished the game in the ninth, putting the Pokes down in order with one K. 

OU concludes the Shriners Children’s College Showdown Sunday evening vs. No. 10 TCU at 6:30 p.m. 

Game Notes

  • RHP LJ Mercurius struck out a career high-tying 12. The junior struck out the side twice over his 5 1/3 innings pitched and registered two or more K’s in four innings. 
  • Through two games, OU is outscoring the opposition 20-4.
  • The Sooner pitching staff struck out 17, the most since fanning 17 vs. Texas last season (5/16/25). The staff has a combined 30 K’s in OU’s first two games and has allowed just 10 hits.
  • Oklahoma’s offense has combined for 20 runs on 21 hits through two games.
  • Senior Trey Gambill tied his career high with three hits.
  • OU plays TCU on Sunday night.
Published
John E. Hoover
JOHN HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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