ROUND ROCK, Texas – The University of Oklahoma closed out day two of the Karbach Round Rock Classic with an 8-4 victory over Oregon State University in another frigid night matchup.
Oregon State started the bats early in the bottom of the first. Sophomore Trent Caraway singled to right, and junior Aiva Arquette followed with a two-run homer just inside the foul pole. The Beavers threatened again in the second, loading the bases with two outs, but junior Malachi Witherspoon snagged a line drive to end the inning.
Witherspoon, the twin brother of Friday’s starter Kyson, delivered a solid outing, pitching four and a third innings while allowing three hits, two earned runs, four walks, and three strikeouts.
Junior Cade Crossland followed with three innings of relief, allowing two runs on one hit and three walks while striking out four. Though not flawless, his effort limited damage and kept the Sooners in control.
Oregon State head coach Mitch Canham said Witherspoon has great stuff and can mix up his pitches well, but thought the Beavers worked him well early in the game.
“We got him high up in his pitch count and still work walks … he’s got really good stuff, there’s no doubt about it. He maintained his velocity, would throw his slider, and then when he needed to, he would throw his curveball,” said Canham.
Freshman Dax Whitney started strong for Oregon State, allowing one hit through three innings, but Oklahoma’s offense erupted in the fourth. Junior Easton Carmichael was hit by a pitch, leading to junior Trey Gambill doubling down the right field line. Freshman Kyle Branch singled to score two, tying the game, before senior Scott Mudler launched a two-run homer to right, giving Oklahoma a 4-2 lead. Branch went 3-4 at the plate with three RBI.
Whitney was soon replaced by sophomore Laif Palmer, who escaped the fourth with a double play but struggled in the fifth, walking three and allowing a run on Branch’s sacrifice grounder. Oregon State loaded the bases in the fifth but failed to score, ending the threat with a fly out to center.
Oklahoma, looking to add more, extended its lead in the sixth. After walks and a wild pitch, sophomore Jason Walk scored on a single by sophomore Jaxon Willits. Junior Easton Carmichael then hit a two-run homer to left, pushing the lead to 7-2. Oregon State’s bullpen had a rough night, with junior AJ Hutcheson and sophomore Drew Talavs combining for an inning and a third, allowing three runs.
When asked about adjustments the lineup made after the first time through, Carmichael said that baseball is a game of failure players have to understand, and come to terms with that.
“With our approach, it’s a game of failure. You’re going to fail more times than you succeed. You try and minimize it the best you can,” said Carmichael.
The Beavers showed life in the eighth, scoring two runs on a single by junior Mason Guerra and a two-run single by sophomore Travis Bazzana, cutting the deficit to 8-4. However, the rally fell short as Oklahoma closed out the win.
Oklahoma will try to remain undefeated when they play the University of Virginia at 4 p.m., while Oregon State will look to bounce back tomorrow when they face off in tomorrow’s opener against Minnesota at noon.
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