After four days without game action, Oklahoma (20-19, 4-8) is returning to the diamond this weekend for a massive three-game Bedlam series against rival No. 19/20/24 Oklahoma State (24-12-1, 7-8).
Things haven’t been going particularly well for the Sooners having dropped each of their last two series against Kansas State and Georgia Southern – both of which being sets of games it felt like Oklahoma needed to take advantage of going into. Head coach Skip Johnson has put it very simply and bluntly the last couple of weeks – this simply isn’t a very good team right now. But, there is a good team inside them somewhere. They’ve shown flashes, but consistency has alluded them all year with the last couple of weeks being more bad than good.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, have had a little bit of a hot and cold stretch of their own having lost five of their six Big 12 games against TCU and Texas. But, make no mistake, this is a very solid Oklahoma State group that will be playing the NCAA Tournament. Their high level of play earlier in the year built them a little cushion for a rough patch – but they’ll be looking for a big turnaround in this series as well.
It really can’t be overstated how big this series is for the Sooners, the season really resides on them finding a way to have their best weekend of the year. Their hopes of battling their way into the postseason conversation are dwindling – but they aren’t completely dead yet. If they could find a way to win a series against their rival, it is entirely within reason to think that could be the spark to a strong finish. And then, well, who knows how the chips will fall.
This series will provide the 304th, 305th and 306th all-time Bedlam baseball games with the Cowboys leading 160-142 historically including winning the first meeting between the two teams last month. On Friday night, Oklahoma will be looking for their first win in Stillwater since 2014. The Pokes are coached by Josh Holliday in his ninth year with the program.
For this gigantic Bedlam series, here is everything you need to know:
Game 1 – Friday
PITCHING MATCHUP: Oklahoma RHP Wyatt Olds (2-4, 6.00) vs Oklahoma State RHP Bryce Osmond (2-3, 5.49)
WHEN: 6:00 p.m. CT
WHERE: Stillwater, Oklahoma (O’Brate Stadium)
HOW TO WATCH: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ (Dave Hunziker & Tom Holliday)
HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network – SportsTalk 99.3 FM/1400 AM KREF; Tune In Radio App; Sportstalk1400.com (Toby Rowland)
Game 2 – Saturday
PITCHING MATCHUP: Oklahoma LHP Jake Bennett (3-3, 6.60) vs Oklahoma State RHP Justin Campbell (4-1, 2.70)
WHEN: 3:00 p.m. CT
WHERE: Norman, Oklahoma (L. Dale Mitchell Park)
HOW TO WATCH: Bally Sports Oklahoma (Toby Rowland & George Frazier)
HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network – SportsTalk 99.3 FM/1400 AM KREF; Tune In Radio App; Sportstalk1400.com (Taylor Maples & Blake Brewster)
Game 3 – Sunday
PITCHING MATCHUP: Oklahoma LHP Braden Carmichael (5-1, 3.97) vs Oklahoma State TBA
WHEN: 4:00 p.m. CT
WHERE: Norman, Oklahoma (L. Dale Mitchell Park)
HOW TO WATCH: ESPNU (Chris Cotter & Mike Rooney)
HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network – SportsTalk 99.3 FM/1400 AM KREF; Tune In Radio App; Sportstalk1400.com (Toby Rowland & Blake Brewster)