Oklahoma Sooners: Jack Mayfield
After losing the opener, OU reeled off four straight, including Monday night’s 5-2 win over Appalachian State, to capture the Charlottesville Regional:
How the game was won: The Sooners got a gutsy pitching effort from Drew Harrison in just his second start of the season. Harrison went six innings, giving up only three hits, three walks and two earned runs. Jordan John and Steven Okert did the rest, shutting down the Mountaineers offense the rest of the way.
Player of the game: Jack Mayfield, who had a base-clearing triple Sunday against Virginia, batted in three more runs with a double and a sacrifice fly.
Stat of the game: Eight of OU’s nine hitters got at least one hit, as the Sooners finally got their offense going Monday after two days of dormant bats. Only Erik Ross failed to get a hit, but he scored a run and stole a base.
Unsung hero: John, who came back after throwing 115 pitches Saturday and tossed two scoreless innings in relief to get the ball to Okert. John, who took the loss to Appalachian State in the opener, gave up only two hits and a walk.
What it means: The Sooners will face back-to-back national champion South Carolina in Columbia. OU beat the Gamecocks in the 2010 College World Series, but South Carolina bounced back to beat the Sooners then win its first of two straight titles.
How the game was won: The Sooners got a gutsy pitching effort from Drew Harrison in just his second start of the season. Harrison went six innings, giving up only three hits, three walks and two earned runs. Jordan John and Steven Okert did the rest, shutting down the Mountaineers offense the rest of the way.
Player of the game: Jack Mayfield, who had a base-clearing triple Sunday against Virginia, batted in three more runs with a double and a sacrifice fly.
Stat of the game: Eight of OU’s nine hitters got at least one hit, as the Sooners finally got their offense going Monday after two days of dormant bats. Only Erik Ross failed to get a hit, but he scored a run and stole a base.
Unsung hero: John, who came back after throwing 115 pitches Saturday and tossed two scoreless innings in relief to get the ball to Okert. John, who took the loss to Appalachian State in the opener, gave up only two hits and a walk.
What it means: The Sooners will face back-to-back national champion South Carolina in Columbia. OU beat the Gamecocks in the 2010 College World Series, but South Carolina bounced back to beat the Sooners then win its first of two straight titles.
The Sooners bats finally came alive as Oklahoma beat Appalachian State 14-6 Monday afternoon in the Charlottesville Regional to force the if-necessary game:
How the game was won: The Sooners broke the game open with four runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-3 lead. Matt Oberste delivered the big hit with an RBI-double. Cody Reine and Jack Mayfield also had RBIs in the inning.
Player of the game: Oberste continued his hot-hitting ways, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs.
Stat of the game: The Sooners banged out 13 hits, two more than they had the previous three games of the regional combined.
Unsung hero: Reine, whose three-run homer in the seventh inning effectively put the game away. Reine finished with a game-high six RBIs.
What it means: The Sooners are one game away from a Super Regional. They just need to beat the Mountaineers one more time tonight.
How the game was won: The Sooners broke the game open with four runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-3 lead. Matt Oberste delivered the big hit with an RBI-double. Cody Reine and Jack Mayfield also had RBIs in the inning.
Player of the game: Oberste continued his hot-hitting ways, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs.
Stat of the game: The Sooners banged out 13 hits, two more than they had the previous three games of the regional combined.
Unsung hero: Reine, whose three-run homer in the seventh inning effectively put the game away. Reine finished with a game-high six RBIs.
What it means: The Sooners are one game away from a Super Regional. They just need to beat the Mountaineers one more time tonight.
Oklahoma advanced to the Charlottesville Regional final with a 5-4 win Sunday night over host Virginia:
How the game was won: Dillon Overton threw a career-high 136 pitches, while handcuffing the UVA offense through eight innings. After Overton left the game, the Cavaliers brought the winning run to the plate, but a groundout to first base ended the game.
Player of the game: Who else? Overton went 8 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and two walks while striking out 11. Overton threw his fastball in the 90s all game.
Stat of the game: The Sooners nearly let UVA come all the way back with poor defense in the ninth inning, including a ball that should have been caught in right field that allowed the Cavaliers to cut the deficit to 5-4. OU now has committed eight errors in its three regional games.
Unsung hero: Jack Mayfield came through with a 3-RBI triple that cleared the bases in the fourth inning. With the OU bats previously scuffling, Mayfield’s base hit finally got the Sooners offense going.
What it means: The Sooners are two wins over Appalachian State away from advancing to a Super Regional. The first game will be at 3 p.m. Monday.
How the game was won: Dillon Overton threw a career-high 136 pitches, while handcuffing the UVA offense through eight innings. After Overton left the game, the Cavaliers brought the winning run to the plate, but a groundout to first base ended the game.
Player of the game: Who else? Overton went 8 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and two walks while striking out 11. Overton threw his fastball in the 90s all game.
Stat of the game: The Sooners nearly let UVA come all the way back with poor defense in the ninth inning, including a ball that should have been caught in right field that allowed the Cavaliers to cut the deficit to 5-4. OU now has committed eight errors in its three regional games.
Unsung hero: Jack Mayfield came through with a 3-RBI triple that cleared the bases in the fourth inning. With the OU bats previously scuffling, Mayfield’s base hit finally got the Sooners offense going.
What it means: The Sooners are two wins over Appalachian State away from advancing to a Super Regional. The first game will be at 3 p.m. Monday.
Oklahoma stayed alive in the Charlottesville Regional by outlasting Army 2-1 Sunday in 10 innings:
How the game was won: Max White drove in Caleb Bushyhead with an RBI single in the 10th inning, and closer Steven Okert held the lead with his third straight scoreless inning.
Player of the game: Okert, who was dominant again in relief. He tossed three innings while giving up only one hit, while striking out three. In the 10th, Army got a runner to second following an error by second baseman Jack Mayfield and a sacrifice bunt. But Okert coaxed back-to-back groundouts to the shortstop to end the game.
Stat of the game: OU needed 53 pitches from Okert to get through the game. For that reason, it’s unlikely he’ll be available to throw again the rest of the regional, which is bad news for the Sooners.
Unsung hero: Even though the OU bats remained dormant for a second straight game, starter Jonathan Gray kept the Sooners in it. He went seven innings, giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out six.
What it means: With three of its top four pitchers used up, OU will have to get the bats going to come back from the loser’s bracket and make it out of the regional. The Sooners will get the loser of Virginia-Appalachian State at 6 p.m. tonight.
How the game was won: Max White drove in Caleb Bushyhead with an RBI single in the 10th inning, and closer Steven Okert held the lead with his third straight scoreless inning.
Player of the game: Okert, who was dominant again in relief. He tossed three innings while giving up only one hit, while striking out three. In the 10th, Army got a runner to second following an error by second baseman Jack Mayfield and a sacrifice bunt. But Okert coaxed back-to-back groundouts to the shortstop to end the game.
Stat of the game: OU needed 53 pitches from Okert to get through the game. For that reason, it’s unlikely he’ll be available to throw again the rest of the regional, which is bad news for the Sooners.
Unsung hero: Even though the OU bats remained dormant for a second straight game, starter Jonathan Gray kept the Sooners in it. He went seven innings, giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out six.
What it means: With three of its top four pitchers used up, OU will have to get the bats going to come back from the loser’s bracket and make it out of the regional. The Sooners will get the loser of Virginia-Appalachian State at 6 p.m. tonight.
In 2010, outfielder Cody Reine caught fire at the right time, slugging Oklahoma past Virginia and all the way to Omaha. This time around, the Sooners are hoping another hot bat can do similar damage in Charlottesville.
OU will open up the Charlottesville Regional with Appalachian State at 1:30 p.m. CT Friday.
Two years ago in the three-game Super Regional there, Reine came virtually out of nowhere to blast four home runs and collect 11 RBIs while propelling the Sooners to Omaha.
Two years later, just like Reine, Matt Oberste has emerged with a white-hot bat just in time for the postseason. Last week in the Big 12 Tournament, Oberste belted three home runs, including two in the semifinal win over national seed Baylor. Oberste has raised his average all the way to .311 and is now tied with Reine for second on team in homers.
“There's another guy named Oberste, that they are saying, ‘Wow, there might be a pretty good punch right there,'” head coach Sunny Golloway said of Oberste, who’s been hitting eighth in the lineup. “It's like a second cleanup hitter coming up next time around. I kind of like the way he's coming around.”
Three reasons the Sooners could win the Charlottesville Regional:
• Starting pitching. The Sooners closed out the Big 12 season pitching as well as anyone in the league. Left-handers Jordan John and Dillon Overton were dominant down the stretch, and right-hander Jonathan Gray also tossed a gem in the second win over Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament. With those three starters pitching like that, the Sooners figure to be a tough out.
• Clutch hitting. This isn’t the best hitting team Golloway has fielded as OU. Far from it in fact. But the last three weeks of the season, OU has gotten timely hit after timely hit up and down the lineup. The Sooners won’t outscore anyone, but if the game is close in the latter innings, this can be a dangers offense. Just ask Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Andrew Heaney.
• Reliable closer. When OU made its run to the 1994 national championship, it had a stifling closer in Bucky Buckles. These Sooners also have a stifling closer in left-hander Steven Okert, who has been nails during OU’s late-season surge, picking up two wins in the Big 12 Tournament. The blueprint for a regional title will be getting the ball to Okert in the final three innings with a lead.
Three reasons the Sooners could lose:
• Virginia. These Cavaliers aren’t quite as prolific as the team the Sooners defeated in a Super Regional in 2010. But they’re still one of the better teams in the country. Cavs slugger Stephen Bruno will be as a tough an out as the OU pitching staff has seen all season.
• Defense. Golloway has had to concede something on defense to get his best lineup at the plate. Jack Mayfield is a tremendous defensive second baseman, but there are holes elsewhere. An error here or there could be the difference in advancing and being eliminated.
• Scoring. This team is not equipped to outscore opponents. Oberste has shown tremendous power the last week with three home runs in the Big 12 Tournament, and Reine has some pop, too. But with only two regular batters hitting above .300 in Max White and now Oberste, the Sooners can’t afford for their starting pitching to struggle early in games.
Quotable:
“This is the most balance we’ve ever had. Jordan John is really good, and he gives our team a tremendous amount of confidence. I don’t think our confidence drops off while Gray or Overton are on the mound. It clearly doesn’t drop off when we have Okert in the game.” -- Golloway
OU will open up the Charlottesville Regional with Appalachian State at 1:30 p.m. CT Friday.
Two years ago in the three-game Super Regional there, Reine came virtually out of nowhere to blast four home runs and collect 11 RBIs while propelling the Sooners to Omaha.
Two years later, just like Reine, Matt Oberste has emerged with a white-hot bat just in time for the postseason. Last week in the Big 12 Tournament, Oberste belted three home runs, including two in the semifinal win over national seed Baylor. Oberste has raised his average all the way to .311 and is now tied with Reine for second on team in homers.
“There's another guy named Oberste, that they are saying, ‘Wow, there might be a pretty good punch right there,'” head coach Sunny Golloway said of Oberste, who’s been hitting eighth in the lineup. “It's like a second cleanup hitter coming up next time around. I kind of like the way he's coming around.”
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Sue OgrockiThe Sooners will need Garrett Carey to play well to advance to the College World Series.
AP Photo/Sue OgrockiThe Sooners will need Garrett Carey to play well to advance to the College World Series.• Starting pitching. The Sooners closed out the Big 12 season pitching as well as anyone in the league. Left-handers Jordan John and Dillon Overton were dominant down the stretch, and right-hander Jonathan Gray also tossed a gem in the second win over Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament. With those three starters pitching like that, the Sooners figure to be a tough out.
• Clutch hitting. This isn’t the best hitting team Golloway has fielded as OU. Far from it in fact. But the last three weeks of the season, OU has gotten timely hit after timely hit up and down the lineup. The Sooners won’t outscore anyone, but if the game is close in the latter innings, this can be a dangers offense. Just ask Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Andrew Heaney.
• Reliable closer. When OU made its run to the 1994 national championship, it had a stifling closer in Bucky Buckles. These Sooners also have a stifling closer in left-hander Steven Okert, who has been nails during OU’s late-season surge, picking up two wins in the Big 12 Tournament. The blueprint for a regional title will be getting the ball to Okert in the final three innings with a lead.
Three reasons the Sooners could lose:
• Virginia. These Cavaliers aren’t quite as prolific as the team the Sooners defeated in a Super Regional in 2010. But they’re still one of the better teams in the country. Cavs slugger Stephen Bruno will be as a tough an out as the OU pitching staff has seen all season.
• Defense. Golloway has had to concede something on defense to get his best lineup at the plate. Jack Mayfield is a tremendous defensive second baseman, but there are holes elsewhere. An error here or there could be the difference in advancing and being eliminated.
• Scoring. This team is not equipped to outscore opponents. Oberste has shown tremendous power the last week with three home runs in the Big 12 Tournament, and Reine has some pop, too. But with only two regular batters hitting above .300 in Max White and now Oberste, the Sooners can’t afford for their starting pitching to struggle early in games.
Quotable:
“This is the most balance we’ve ever had. Jordan John is really good, and he gives our team a tremendous amount of confidence. I don’t think our confidence drops off while Gray or Overton are on the mound. It clearly doesn’t drop off when we have Okert in the game.” -- Golloway
ABOUT SOONER NATION
Jake Trotter
Jake Trotter joined ESPN.com in 2011 after four years with The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman, covering OU and Big 12 football. He's a graduate of Washington and Lee (Va.) University and lives in Oklahoma City with his wife. Email him at trotterjake@gmail.com.
Brandon Chatmon
Brandon Chatmon joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending eight years with The Oklahoman, covering Oklahoma State University, high schools and recruiting. Chatmon lives in Norman, Okla. Email him at bchatmonespn@gmail.com.
Bob Przybylo
Bob Przybylo joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years with The Oklahoman, covering high schools and recruiting. Przybylo lives in Oklahoma City. Email him at bprzybyloespn@gmail.com.