Oklahoma (22-21, 6-9) is back on the diamond this weekend for another vital Big 12 series against West Virginia (16-21, 6-12) in Morgantown. At this point in the season, every game is precious for the Sooners and they’ll need a good weekend here to hope to keep their NCAA Tournament dreams alive.
The middle portion of the Big 12 standings is very jumbled right now with Oklahoma and West Virginia hanging near the bottom at seventh and eighth place, respectively. Whatever team finishes in ninth does not qualify for the annual conference tournament at month’s end, so both of these teams are scratching and clawing to try and keep that from happening to them. Currently, Kansas is that team with a 4-11 league record.
The Sooners had seemingly built up a lot positive momentum for the first time in quite awhile when they took the first two against rival Oklahoma State last weekend, but after letting a lead slip away in the ninth of the finale and losing there they were pummeled on Tuesday night by Texas Tech. Finding away to get back on track in Morgantown, needless to say, is wildly important.
The Mountaineers, meanwhile, have not had the best season and are on a bit of a tough stretch of their own having lost their last five conference games. They did, however, pick up a very nice win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday night that should give them some confidence with Oklahoma coming into town.
This series will provide the 26th, 27th and 28th all-time meetings between Oklahoma and West Virginia, with the Sooners holding the historical edge 14-11. However, the Mountaineers won the last series between the two squads taking two of three games in Morgantown in 2019. West Virginia is coached by Randy Mazey in his ninth year with the program.
For this Big 12 weekend set, here is everything you need to know:
Game 1 – Friday
PITCHING MATCHUP: Oklahoma RHP Wyatt Olds (3-4, 5.33) vs West Virginia LHP Jackson Wolf (3-5, 3.69)
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. CT
WHERE: Morgantown, West Virginia (Monongalia County Ballpark)
HOW TO WATCH: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
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, 6.46) vs West Virginia LHP Jake Carr (1-4, 10.09)
WHEN: 3:00 p.m. CT
WHERE: Morgantown, West Virginia (Monongalia County Ballpark)
HOW TO WATCH: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network – SportsTalk 99.3 FM/1400 AM KREF; Tune In Radio App; Sportstalk1400.com (Toby Rowland)
Game 3 – Sunday
PITCHING MATCHUP: Oklahoma LHP Braden Carmichael (5-1, 4.41) vs West Virginia LHP Ben Hampton (3-1, 3.72)
WHEN: 10:30 a.m. CT
WHERE: Morgantown, West Virginia (Monongalia County Ballpark)
HOW TO WATCH: Big 12 Now on ESPN+
HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network – SportsTalk 99.3 FM/1400 AM KREF; Tune In Radio App; Sportstalk1400.com (Toby Rowland)
UPDATE:
Due to inclement weather expected in Morgantown on Sunday, the finale of the series was moved up to Saturday as a doubleheader. Oklahoma and West Virginia will still open the series Friday night at 5:30 p.m. CT, and then will play the next two games back-to-back on Saturday beginning at 2:00 p.m. CT. All television/radio information remains the same.
𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐄 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄
We will now play a doubleheader vs. West Virginia tomorrow at 2 pm CT, due to inclement weather in the forecast for Sunday.
Tonight’s game is still on as scheduled for 5:30 pm CT. #Sooners https://t.co/e5MOal3Y3y
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) May 7, 2021