Freshman Pitcher Leads Sooners to Bedlam Victory

Originally Published: May 9, 2010 7:43 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners’ Jack Mayfield threw a complete game Sunday, shutting out the Oklahoma State Cowboys 6-0 to claim this season’s Bedlam Series.

The freshman earned Player of the Game honors in his first start of the season after allowing only five hits with no walks in the 30 batters he faced. He struck out seven hitters to finish with the win and improve to 5-1 on the season.

Mayfield’s agility was shown in the final play of the game when OSU’s Mark Ginther got a piece of a pitch, sending it right over the mound. Mayfield leaped to snatch the ball, turned and fired it to Caleb Bushyhead at second to throw out Davis Duren. Bushyhead then shot it to first for the double play to end the game.

The win marked the second season the Sooners have claimed the Bedlam Series, having won the first game of the series and lost the second this year.

More on Oklahoma Sports:
-Sooners' Bats Overtake Cowboys in First of Three Games
-Oklahoma State Holds off Oklahoma to Even Bedlam Series

Mayfield’s performance was jeopardized in the top of the fourth when he gave up his first hit of the game to Duren with a single into center field. Josh Botts then hit a line drive, hitting the pitcher in the top of his left thigh. Botts reached on the infield single and Mayfield remained in the game.

Ginther popped up bunting, but OU catcher Tyler Ogle responded quickly, diving to catch the ball in the dirt. Mayfield struck out Nico Rosthenhausler on the next at-bat and relied again on his defense which caught Duren between second and third base to end the inning.

Mayfield, who only pitched 28.1 innings all season, was recruited as a shortstop but has seen time on the mound closing games for the Sooners. The right handed pitcher’s quick reflexes and composure paid dividends for Oklahoma Sunday.

Head coach Sunny Golloway praised Mayfield’s ability to keep the Cowboys’ hitters on their toes, switching up his pitches to catch them off guard. Coupled with a strong game on the mound, the Sooners’ big hitting also helped the team clinch the series win.

“He was terrific,” Golloway said. “It was an incredible performance by him. I was proud he was able to get out of a couple of jams there and get a complete game.”

The Sooners took an early lead in the bottom of the third inning when Cowboys pitcher Mike Strong walked Ricky Eisenberg. Cody Reine laid down a bunt to Ginther at third, who threw it wide to second. Eisenberg rounded third and scored for the Sooners.

Garrett Buechele popped out to right field as Reine advanced to third. Cameron Seitzer extended OU’s lead in the next at-bat when he hit his 12th home run of the season, posting a two-run homer to make it 3-0.

The Sooners continued to score one run in each of the next three innings, including a homer by Eisenberg in the bottom of the sixth.

The Cowboys' struggles didn’t end in the batter’s box. Strong started for the Pokes, but was pulled in the bottom of the fifth after the Sooners had built a 4-0 lead. Freshman Andrew Heaney relieved Strong, walking the first batter he faced.

The Putnam City High School graduate threw 3.2 innings, striking out six batters and allowed two runs - one RBI in the fifth and Eisenberg’s long ball in the sixth.

It was Strong (4-2) who finished with the loss for the Cowboys, allowing six hits in the 23 batters he faced. He struck out three batters in his 4.1 innings on the mound while giving up five runs.

Oklahoma State’s four errors and struggles on the mound, coupled with the Sooners’ strength in Mayfield and his defense helped Oklahoma win this season’s Bedlam Series.

The Cowboys will face the Rice Owls Tuesday in Stillwater at 6:30 p.m., while the Sooners next host the Memphis Tigers Friday at 6:30 p.m.