Oklahoma Baseball: Sooners top Missouri State, force rubber match

After blowing an eight-run lead the previous evening, the Oklahoma Sooners (15-4) took care of business in the second game of the weekend series against Missouri State (5-12), picking up an 11-2 win.

Nathan Wiles took the hill for the Saturday game, going 7.0 innings while allowing two earned runs and four hits. Wiles also struck out nine batters and improved to 4-0 on the season. His 2019 ERA now sits at 2.97.

After getting the Friday start on the mound, Cade Cavalli was the star of the day at the plate, going 3-5 with a three-run homer. In the process, the sophomore improved his average to .367. Brady Lindsly and Conor McKenna were also stellar in the batter’s box, with each going 3-4. Lindsly also added a triple and three RBIs.

Missouri State struck first in the opening frame, as Drew Millas hit a frozen rope over the wall in right for a solo shot. However, the Oklahoma bats really got going in the bottom of the second, as the Sooners batted around en route to five runs on four hits, three walks and an HBP. Lindsly grabbed two-RBIs on a triple to right-center and later scored on a wild pitch. Brendan Zaragoza (walk) and Brylie Ware (sac fly) also recorded an RBI apiece in the frame.

After allowing one run on two hits in the top of the fourth, OU struck back in the bottom half when Cavalli launched one over the wall in left for a three-run jack — his second homer of the season.

In the bottom of the seventh, Conor McKenna led things off with a triple, as MSU left fielder Logan Geha was unable to corral the ball at the wall. Brady Harlan brought McKenna home with an RBI single on the next at-bat, making it 9-2.

Cavilli and Tyler Hardman led off the bottom of the eighth with a pair of singles, which set the table for Brady Lindsly’s RBI single and a 10-2 lead. On the next at-bat, McKenna came through with an RBI single of his own, making it 11-2.

OU and MSU will face off Sunday in a rubber match at 1 p.m. CT at L. Dale Mitchell Park.