Sooners hope they’ve turned the corner
COLLEGE BASEBALL NOTEBOOK
John Helsley
NORMAN — spoke plainly, yet succinctly in analyzing last weekend’s wins over Texas.
“We won a series,” Hughes said. “That was our goal going in, to win the series.” Simple. Yet telling. The Sooners won a series for just the second time this season; a Big 12 series, too. And it was much needed in a near two-month run that’s involved a continual straddle-dance with the .500 mark.
Oklahoma backed it up Tuesday with a 12-2 rout of a Dallas Baptist squad that’s spent time in the rankings this season. And suddenly, the Sooners seem to have some life.
“The past couple of games we’ve been playing really well,” said OU senior outfielder “I feel like we really picked up some momentum.
“I think the Texas series can be huge for us. It’s such a big rivalry, anytime we can beat those guys it can put us over the top. And I think that can be the case this year.”
Nobody’s throwing a party just yet in Norman, with the Sooners still just 15-14-1 overall and 2-4 in the Big 12. Still, for a team that carried high expectations — and plenty of talent — into the season, there’s a sense that a big finish is possible.
“We’re just putting our heads down and playing ball,” said star shortstop Sheldon Neuse, who ranks among the top three in seven Big 12 hitting categories and second with four saves. “We’ll look up at the end and see where we’re at.
“That’s the biggest thing, not looking too far ahead, just taking care of what’s in front of us at the time and moving forward.”
OU remains home to face Baylor this weekend. It’s a Bears squad in transition under first-year coach Steve Rodriguez, who replaced longtime skipper Steve Smith.
Baylor stands 15-14 overall and 3-3 in the conference, with a series win over ninthplace Kansas.
So there’s opportunity for the Sooners to maintain momentum. And they may be gaining momentum, as a young roster continues to grow and adjust on the fly, mixing in with veterans like Neuse, Haley,
and others. OU has started at least three freshmen — and as many as six — in its everyday lineup for 18 of the last 20 games. Third baseman left fielder Walker and catcher are becoming regulars as rookies, while freshmen pitchers have accounted for 11 of the team’s 15 wins.
Right-hander leads the staff with a 2.65 earned run average, and his four wins are the most among starters.
another freshman righty, may be moving into the weekend rotation. And freshman reliever Austin Hansen is tied with Andritsos for the team lead with four wins.
“They’re definitely bringing a lot to the table,” Haley said of the kids. “I think everyone’s kind of settled in now, not really feeling like freshmen anymore.
“We had so many new guys we weren’t used to playing with each other. We kept losing a bunch of one- and two-run ball games. I just feel that now that we’ve got a few games under our belt with each other,
we’ll start winning those games.”
COWBOYS FINALLY HOME
After hitting the road for its first two Big 12 weekends, No. 16-ranked Oklahoma State returns to Allie P. Reynolds Stadium for a conference showdown series with No. 19 Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders have surged to the front of the league standings at 8-1, sweeping OU and Kansas State in Lubbock and taking two of three at Baylor.
Tech is the outlier in a conference race that is otherwise cramped, with the Cowboys and TCU at 4-2, followed by West Virginia at 4-4 and Baylor and Texas at 3-3.
“It’s a big series,” said OSU second baseman “It’s a chance for us to get going again.”
The Cowboys, 10-2 at home, continue to battle injuries, with shortstop Donnie Walton the latest to miss time with a bruised foot. Walton didn’t play in the field last weekend at West Virginia, limited only to a pinch hit spot and designated hitter duty in the series finale. “Donnie’s getting closer,” OSU coach
said earlier this week. “Hopefully, he’ll be ready to go. He’s a tough one.”