NORMAN — Oklahoma improved to 3-0 in dramatic fashion on Saturday. The Sooners earned a pair of one-run victories to sweep a doubleheader against Hofstra at L. Dale Mitchell Park.
In Game 1, the Sooners rode a strong season debut from right-hander Jonathan Gray and a four-hit performance by Garrett Carey to claim a 3-2 victory.
Gray held Hofstra to two runs on three hits over 61⁄3 innings. Jake Fisher and Robert Tasin combined for 22⁄3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Tasin got the save.
John Tiedemann took the loss. He allowed all three runs on eight hits. He struck out four and walked three.
In Game 2, it took a rally from a six-run deficit to claim an 11-10 win in 11 innings.
OU starting pitcher Billy Waltrip had a shaky debut. He gave up six runs on three hits over 31⁄3 innings. Command was the left-hander’s issue. He walked five. Reliever Kindle Ladd didn’t fare much better, two runs on two hits over 2⁄3 of an inning. He also walked a pair.
The Sooners managed to force extra innings with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. First baseman Matt Oberste delivered the game-tying hit with a two-run single with two outs.
After sophomore right-hander Robert Tasin and freshman left-hander Jacob Evans combined to get the Sooners out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the 11th, freshman Craig Aikin delivered a leadoff single to center, then scored the winning run when senior shortstop Jack Mayfield gave a fly ball a ride into center that was dropped by Hofstra senior outfielder Taylor Stuart.
Evans got the win for the Sooners. Brett Schreiber was saddled with the loss.
OU and Hofstra conclude the four-game series at 1 p.m.
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