No. 10 Oklahoma (20-3, 4-2 SEC) took two out of three games against Mississippi State (15-9, 1-5) in a weekend series at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
The Bulldogs won Friday’s opener 2-1, while the Sooners won 13-11 on Saturday and 7-3 on Sunday. This weekend marked OU’s first home conference series against an SEC team.
Here are three takeaways from the weekend:
Clutch hitting
In both of OU’s wins, it was the hitting that propelled the Sooners to massive victories.
During Saturday’s slugfest, junior infielder Dawson Willis broke an 11-11 tie with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to put the Sooners up for good. Oklahoma had jumped out to a 7-0 lead through two innings, and trailed 11-10 entering the bottom of the seventh.
SMOKED 💣 @DawsonWillis15 pic.twitter.com/71AAtFYciX
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 23, 2025
On Sunday, the Sooners broke through in the sixth inning after a back-and-forth affair through the first five innings.
Junior catcher Easton Carmichael broke the tie with a go-ahead RBI single, and OU tacked on two more runs in the inning.
In the last two games, OU has combined to go 29-42 in advancement opportunities.
Sooners LEAD 🗣️ @3aston_11 pic.twitter.com/GAZIZ66OOz
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 23, 2025
“Getting big hits in big moments is who he is,” head coach Skip Johnson said of Carmichael Sunday. “He’s separating balls from strikes, and I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Bullpen steps up
The back end of the Sooners’ bullpen did their jobs when their number was called throughout the weekend.
The trio of sophomore Jason Bodin, senior James Hitt and senior Dylan Crooks each pitched in multiple games this weekend, and they managed to keep Mississippi State off the scoreboard.
They all combined to play eight innings throughout all three games and gave up five hits while striking out eight batters. Other big contributors of the bullpen this weekend were freshman Jaden Barfield and sophomores Beau Sampson and Gavyn Jones.
DC enters. DC strands. 🔥@Dylan_Crooks7 pic.twitter.com/b3g3O7ILcS
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 23, 2025
“He answers the call when you ask him,” Johnson said about Bodin Sunday. “I don’t know how many pitches he threw today, but he was ready to go, which is a really good sight to see for me.”
Crowd shows up
In the first series against an SEC opponent at L. Dale Mitchell Park this season, Oklahoma fans were a factor in all three games.
Friday managed to see 3,539 people in attendance, Saturday managed to bring in 4,161 people and Sunday brought in 3,194. Oklahoma is now 15-1 at home this season.
shoutout Sooner Nation 📈 pic.twitter.com/sisP8AmAWO
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 22, 2025
Next, Oklahoma will face Oral Roberts (15-8, 4-2 Summit) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in Tulsa.
This story was edited by Josh McDaniel.
PHOTOS: Oklahoma Sooners-Mississippi State Bulldogs Baseball
Sophomore pitcher Beau Sampson during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Redshirt sophomore infielder/outfielder Sam Christiansen during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior pitcher Dylan Crooks during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
OU baseball head coach Skip Johnson during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder Dayton Tockey during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
NCAA triple jump champion Agur Dwol during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior outfielder Trey Gambill during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior outfielder Trey Gambill during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore infielder Jaxon Willits during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore infielder Jaxon Willits during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman infielder Kyle Branch during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
L. Dale Mitchell Park during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior catcher Scott Mudler experiences injury during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior catcher Scott Mudler experiences injury during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior catcher Scott Mudler experiences injury during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Gavyn Jones during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Gavyn Jones during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder Dawson Willis during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore infielder Jaxon Willits during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Redshirt sophomore infielder/outfielder Sam Christiansen during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior outfielder Trey Gambill during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior catcher Easton Carmichael during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore infielder Jaxon Willits during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore infielder Jaxon Willits during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore infielder Jaxon Willits during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman infielder Kyle Branch during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior pitcher Malachi Witherspoon during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sooners during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore pitcher Beau Sampson during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore pitcher Beau Sampson during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder Dayton Tockey during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Redshirt sophomore infielder/outfielder Sam Christiansen during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder Dawson Willis during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore pitcher Jason Bodin during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore pitcher Jason Bodin during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk and freshman infielder Kyle Branch during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore pitcher Jason Bodin during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sophomore utility player Jason Walk during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior outfielder Trey Gambill during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior catcher Easton Carmichael during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior outfielder Trey Gambill during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder Dayton Tockey during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
OU baseball head coach Skip Johnson during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman infielder Kyle Branch during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman infielder Kyle Branch during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder/pitcher Brayden Horton during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder/pitcher Brayden Horton during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman pitcher Jaden Barfield during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman pitcher Jaden Barfield during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior catcher Easton Carmichael during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior catcher Easton Carmichael during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman pitcher Jaden Barfield during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder Dayton Tockey during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman infielder Kyle Branch during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior pitcher Dylan Crooks during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Freshman infielder Kyle Branch during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Junior infielder Dayton Tockey during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior pitcher Dylan Crooks during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior pitcher Dylan Crooks during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior pitcher Dylan Crooks during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Senior pitcher Dylan Crooks during the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
Sooners before the game against Mississippi State on March 23.
