Oklahoma baseball struggles defensively, drops season opener to Omaha 6-3

Oklahoma baseball dropped their season opener on Sunday to Omaha 6-3 at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman.

After a wild week that saw their season-opening opponent change three separate times, Oklahoma baseball finally took the field for the first time on Sunday. But, the long week of uncertainty and winter weather may have taken its toll as the Sooners committed four defensive errors on their way to a 6-3 defeat at the hand of the Omaha Mavericks (1-0).

Oklahoma gave the ball to their ace Wyatt Olds, who performed well over his four innings. He only allowed one hit and struck out seven, but defensive miscues allowed two runs to cross under his watch – one of them unearned. He then handed things off to Dalton Fowler, who picked up the loss after allowing two runs over his 2 2/3 innings pitched.

The Sooners bats remained mostly cold all the way until the sixth inning when they suddenly came to life. With two men on base, Diego Muniz came through with a pinch-hit RBI single to get them their first run of the year. Second baseman Conor McKenna and catcher Justin Mitchell then followed that up with run-scoring hits of their own to push Oklahoma ahead 3-2.

But, the defensive issues reared their ugly head again as a throwing error allowed the tying to run to score the very next inning. A Mavericks triple by center fielder Garrett Kennedy then put them ahead 4-3 and they wouldn’t relinquish the lead again – even tacking on two more runs in the ninth to sow up the 6-3 win.

Omaha managed to have twice as many runs (6) as hits (3) on the day due to the unusual defensive struggles throughout the game. Skip Johnson mentioned postgame the week of having to practice indoors due to the weather may have played a part in the bad defensive play.

The Sooners would threaten in the bottom of the ninth with runners on first and second with nobody out, but a double play and a strikeout silenced the rally and got Oklahoma off to an 0-1 start to the season.

All in all, it was a day of shaking off rust in general for the team that hadn’t played a competitive baseball game in a whopping 348 days. The hectic schedule and weather throughout the week certainly didn’t help things either, as the poor play in the field was largely out of character from what we saw a year ago. Especially from shortstop Brandon Zaragoza, who is as sure-handed as they come, who had an error in the ninth inning that helped the Mavericks push their lead out.

It seems ridiculous to put too much importance on a game in February, but Monday’s series finale feels like a bounce back performance could really be useful to shake this one off before heading to Texas for several games against quality opponents in professional ballparks.

Game two of the series will be Monday at noon CT back at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman.

When, where, how to watch Oklahoma baseball’s series against Omaha

Everything you need to know for Oklahoma’s two-game series against Omaha beginning on Sunday.

After the longest offseason in the history of college baseball and a tumultuous week that saw their season-opening opponent change three different times, Oklahoma baseball is finally set to begin the 2021 season.

The Sooners had an elite pitching staff a year ago joined by a solid lineup and a quality bullpen that seemingly had them as a legitimate contender for the College World Series. But alas, the season was canceled just as it was really getting going at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The world is an entirely different place than it was when we last saw Oklahoma play 348 days ago, but they are back and ready to give it a new go with their new team. While the production lost in the rotation is inarguably significant, they bring back a solid set of starters once again along with a lineup and bullpen that should be improved from a year ago.

Awaiting the Sooners on Sunday will be Omaha, creating the first ever meeting between the two programs. The Mavericks are coached by Evan Porter who enters his fifth season leading the program.

For this two-game series to open the 2021 season, here is everything you need to know:

Game 1 – Sunday

PITCHING MATCHUP:   Oklahoma RHP Wyatt Olds (0-0, 0.00) vs Omaha TBA

WHEN:   2:30 p.m. CT

WHERE:   Norman, Oklahoma

HOW TO WATCH:   SoonerSports.tv ($)

HOW TO LISTEN:   Sportstalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM KREF; Tune In Radio App; Sportstalk1400.com (Toby Rowland)

Game 2 – Monday

PITCHING MATCHUP:   Oklahoma LHP Jake Bennett (0-0, 0.00) vs Omaha TBA

WHEN:   Noon CT

HOW TO WATCH:   SoonerSports.tv ($)

HOW TO LISTEN:   Sportstalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM KREF; Tune In Radio App; Sportstalk1400.com (Toby Rowland)

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Oklahoma baseball schedules two-game home series with Omaha beginning Sunday

Oklahoma has found their fourth different opening-weekend opponent with Omaha coming to Norman for two games on Sunday and Monday.

This has been one of the more wild weeks of Oklahoma baseball in recent memory and it hasn’t involved a single game being played. After having their first series of the year canceled three separate times, the Sooners have miraculously managed to find a fourth different opening-weekend opponent as they have scheduled a two-game home set against Omaha running on Sunday and Monday.

The timeline for the week has been all over the place with the originally scheduled home series against Southern being canceled due to weather on Monday and replaced by games with Wichita State in Round Rock, Texas. Then, those matchups were canceled two days later due to issues related to the weather at the facility the games were set to be held.

Later the same day, Oklahoma managed to set up a three-game set with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to be played at the Islanders’ ballpark but then that was reported as being off last night. And now, finally, the Sooners have scheduled Omaha for Sunday and Monday.

Catch all that?

Due to all efforts being put into clearing the field for play, fans and outside media will not be allowed to attend these opening games but they will be streamed on SoonerSports.tv and the radio broadcast will be available on Sportstalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM in Norman.

Game one will be 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, with the second coming on Monday at noon CT at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

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