No. 12 Sooners Shut Out Broncos, Take Series

NORMAN – No. 12 Oklahoma took the series over Santa Clara with an 8-0 win in baseball Saturday afternoon in Norman.

The OU (13-2) pitching staff hurled its fourth shutout of the season, with starting RHP LJ Mercurius earning his fourth win of the season on the mound. Mercurius fanned six while allowing four hits and no walks. 

The bullpen of Mason Bixby (1.0 IP), Nate Smithburg (1.0) and Drew Rerick (1.0) finished the job with no hits or walks allowed to the Broncos (5-8) over the final three innings. Bixby struck out a pair in his one inning while Smithburg and Rerick each fanned one. 

At the plate, Brendan Brock and Deiten Lachance had identical 2-for-4 days with a pair of RBIs each. The Sooners put up a trio of runs in both the second and sixth innings, powered by Brock and Lachance doubles along with a two-bagger from Drew Dickerson and a pair of singles from Alec Blair and Kyle Branch.  

Pitchers of Record

Win: LJ Mercurius (4-0)

Loss: Jace Gillmore (0-2)

Statistical Snapshot

• Brendan Brock | 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI
• Deiten Lachance | 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI
• Jaxon Willits | 2-for-3, 1 3B, 2 BB
• LJ Mercurius | 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K

Notes

• OU improved to 13-2 on the season and 9-2 at Kimrey Family Stadium.
• OU continued its streak of an extra-base hit in every game of the season with four on the day.
• Deiten Lachance has a hit in 14 of OU’s 15 games, while Brendan Brock has registered a base knock in 13 of 15. 
• Jaxon Willits hit his team-leading second triple of the season on Saturday. It was the fifth of his career.
• LJ Mercurius struck out six on the day to run his season total up to 34 with just six walks. He had zero walks on Saturday. 
• It was the second game this season OU has walked no batters.
• The shutout was OU’s fourth of the season, eclipsing the three total the Sooners had a season ago. 
• The OU pitching staff retired the final 10 Bronco batters of the day in order from the sixth through ninth innings.

Up Next

OU concludes its series with Santa Clara Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch. The game can be seen on SECN+ and heard on 99.3 FM/1400 AM. 

Promotions include Youth Weekend, where Sooner Kids Club members get in free, and Sunday four-pack where families can get four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and a popcorn starting at $40.