Norman — Oklahoma wasn’t dominant Tuesday night at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
It settled for doing all the little things right in a 4-2 victory over Massachusetts.
It was far from the offensive barrage the Sooners have displayed several times over the first four weeks of the season. They entered Tuesday night’s opener of the two-game series averaging 8.23 runs per game.
The runs-per-game average figured to inflate with the Minutemen coming to town. Massachussetts had given up 46 runs in losing four straight at Oklahoma State last week.
The high scoring didn’t happen.
“You have to play the game of baseball,” OU coach Sunny Golloway said. “Our guys were probably a little guilty of looking at the scores over the weekend and seeing Oklahoma State beating them.”
Massachusetts pitcher Mike Gedman was too good for that to happen. He went eight innings, and the 6-foot-5 left-hander kept the Sooners guessing most of the night.
He gave up nine hits. Three were to OU designated hitter Max White, who went 3-for-4 and drove in a run.
Gedman didn’t give up much, but the Sooners (16-2) were effective at capitalizing when they had an opportunity.
“We had practice before the game and the big talk was about taking the right approach in the right situations,” White said.
It was situational hitting that did it for the Sooners. They got their first run on Caleb Bushyhead’s solo homer in the second inning. Jack Mayfield’s squeeze bunt then scored Chris Ellison in the third inning.
The other two runs came on clutch two-out hits. Cameron Seitzer delivered a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning that proved to be the game-winner, and White added a two-out single in the eighth to add the insurance run.
The one thing that was expected for the Sooners Tuesday night was another stellar performance by their bullpen. J.R. Robinson was knocked out after giving up two runs over 41⁄3 innings.
Jason Chowning slammed the door shut on Massachusetts (0-5). He retired every batter he faced over 22⁄3 innings, including four strikeouts to get his first victory of the season.
“I felt real loose and was able to hit my spots today,” Chowning said.
Gedman (0-1) took the loss for the Minutemen. He threw all eight innings and struck out six without allowing a walk.
OU closer Ryan Duke closed out the ninth to get his seventh save. He allowed a hit and two walks in the inning, but managed to escape without giving up a run.
The Sooners face the Minutemen at 7 tonight in the finale of the two-game series.
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
