Latest news with #KyleBranch
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kentucky baseball sweeps Oklahoma to bolster NCAA Tournament resume
Kentucky baseball sweeps Oklahoma to bolster NCAA Tournament resume The Oklahoma baseball team entered the weekend itching to state its claim to the NCAA Tournament selection committee as to why the Sooners should host a regional. Instead, the Sooners will head to the final weekend of the SEC baseball season set to play arch-rival Texas as losers of four straight games after OU lost to Kentucky on Sunday, 7-2. For the third straight game, the Wildcats jumped on Oklahoma early, leading 2-0 after two innings. Scott Mudler and Kyle Branch hit back-to-back RBI singles in the third inning to pull the Sooners back into a tie. But the rest of the game didn't go nearly as well. Tyler Bell hit a two-run home run and Luke Lawrence followed one batter later with a solo shot off Malachi Witherspoon to open the last lead Kentucky would need. The Wildcats went ahead and tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh inning with two RBI singles. OU simply never came up with the big hit. The Sooners collected nine hits - including three from Branch - but left six runners in scoring position for the game. Mudler also had two hits, including a double, and Jaxon Willits picked up knocks, as well. The loss dropped Oklahoma to below .500 in SEC play (13-14) and into a tie for 10th with Kentucky and Florida. The Sooners' final three-game set of the regular season begins in Norman on Thursday against the Lonhorns, who dropped two of three to Florida this weekend.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
No. 9 Sooners baseball team loses in finale at Alabama, drops first SEC series
No. 9 Sooners baseball team loses in finale at Alabama, drops first SEC series The No. 9 Oklahoma baseball team just needed one more two-run inning to give themselves a chance. It didn't happen. Instead, OU fell to No. 11 Alabama in the third game of a three-game series on Sunday, 8-6, allowing the Crimson Tide to take the set and push themselves a game in front of Oklahoma in the Southeastern Conference standings. The series loss, Oklahoma's first in league play since joining the SEC, nearly ended up a series win after a furious rally. OU trailed 8-2 entering the seventh inning when its bats came alive. Kyle Branch scored on a fielder's choice and Brayden Horton hit an RBI single to pull two runs back. In the eighth, Dayton Tockey smacked a two-run home run to make things interesting. Then the rain hit - for the second time - and the game was put on hold for about a half-hour. But with the rain leaving, so did the Sooners bats. Alabama closer Carson Ozmer retired Dasan Harris, Jason Walk and Horon in order to finish off the Tide victory. The Sooners rued their missed opportunities. OU left two runners in scoring position in the first inning and another two in scoring position in the eighth. They also committed two errors in Alabama's three-run fourth inning. Meanwhile, Alabama jumped on Oklahoma starter Malachi Witherspoon. He was tagged for all eight runs - though just five earned - on seven hits, a walk and three hit batters in five innings. OU's bullpen gave up just two more baserunners over the final three innings, but it was too late. In addition to Hockey's home run, Jason Walk also went yard. His inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning made the game 8-2. He finished 1 for 4 with a walk and two runs. Jaxon Willits and Sam Christiansen each went 2 for 4 with a run, while Willits added an RBI and a stolen base. Oklahoma is back on the field at in Tuesday in Frisco, Texas, for a one-off game against former Big 12 rival Texas Tech. SEC play picks back up Thursday through Saturday at L. Dale Mitchell Park against LSU.
