OU baseball sweeps Texas Tech, holds three-game lead atop Big 12 standings

NORMAN — OU baseball’s surge has continued at the right time with two weekends remaining in the regular season.

The Sooners swept Texas Tech last weekend for a program-record fifth Big 12 series sweep. Three of those five have come on the road. Oklahoma is 18-6 in conference play and holds a three-game lead for first place.

Oklahoma State, Texas and West Virginia are tied for second place, all with a 15-9 conference record. The Sooners’ sweep marked the first time Texas Tech had been swept on its home field since 2011 and as things stand, the Red Raiders might miss the postseason for the first time since 2015.

Following its offensive struggles of late, OU’s bats led the way last week behind Bryce Madron, Michael Snyder and John Spikerman’s impressive performances. The Sooners also shut out the Big 12’s best offense statistically Friday night when reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Week Braden Davis struck out eight Red Raiders in seven innings.

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Kyson Witherspoon tossed five scoreless innings Saturday. Texas Tech didn’t score its first run until the sixth inning of the second game of the series. Right-hander Carson Atwood got the start in place of Grant Stevens, who has struggled as the Sunday starter in recent outings, and threw the first 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and four walks.

OU is up to No. 17 in the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll released Monday. If it keeps rolling in conference play, it’s looking increasingly likely OU will host a regional.

“It’d be huge,” Johnson told The Oklahoman about the possibility last week. “I look at it like it’d be great for our fans. We played for the national championship two years ago (in Omaha, Nebraska), and there were about 5,000 fans there.”

The Sooners host Baylor for a three-game series this weekend, before finishing the regular season with a midweek game at Xavier and a three-game series at Cincinnati.

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No. 17 OU

• Overall record: 29-17, 18-6 Big 12 (first)

• Last week: 3-1 (lost to Oral Roberts 3-1; beat Texas Tech 8-0, 7-5, 8-7)

• This week: vs. Baylor, 6:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN+, 4 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+ and 2 p.m. Sunday on ESPN+

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OU baseball player of the week

John Spikerman, outfielder: Since a hand injury sidelined him for a little less than a month, Spikerman has been on fire. He finished the weekend 6 for 12 with a home run and four RBIs. He’s hitting .375 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 104 at-bats this season. He’s also walked 13 times. While he’s been back in the lineup for a few weeks, Spikerman looked fully like himself for the first time this weekend. In addition to his timely hitting, the veteran outfielder made a highlight-reel throw you don’t see college baseball players make often.

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OU baseball player on the rise

Kyson Witherspoon, right-handed pitcher: Witherspoon looked much more comfortable on the mound Saturday compared to his outing against Texas when he gave up five earned runs. The Northwest Florida State College transfer struck out seven hitters and was dominant in the first five innings. He may have thrown for too long, however, as he finished allowing three runs and five free passes. Witherspoon has proved he deserves to keep his weekend starting spot and the Sooners will need him if they’re going to make a postseason run.

More: Texas Tech baseball swept at home in Big 12 play for first time since 2007 | 3 takeaways

OU baseball stat to know

18: OU’s 18 Big 12 wins is its most in conference play since it won 19 in 2004. The Sooners will likely blow past that count with winnable games against the Bears this weekend and Bearcats next weekend.

OU is also aiming to clinch its first-ever Big 12 regular-season conference title.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU baseball holds three-game lead atop Big 12 standings after sweep