Sooners knock off No. 2 Virginia, complete Round Rock sweep

No. 20/25 Oklahoma completed the three-game sweep at the Round Rock Classic with a 5-4 win over No. 2 Virginia in 12 innings Sunday night.

In the bottom of the 12th with two runners on, junior Dawson Willis laid down a bunt and beat out the throw at first base which got away from the first baseman, allowing pinch runner Brayden Horton to cross home for the win. The Sooners (6-0) held Virginia (3-3) to four runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out 12 Cavaliers and allowed no extra-base hits.

Oklahoma's 6-0 start is the best since 2019 (6-0) and the Sooners' win over the second-ranked team in the country is OU's highest-ranked victory since beating No. 1 Arkansas on March 16, 2021. OU won consecutive top-10 matchups this weekend (No. 7 Oregon State) for the first time since topping No. 5 Texas Tech in back-to-back games in 2022.

Oklahoma rallied from an early 3-0 deficit in the contest after UVA plated three runs on two hits and an error at the top of the second. Sophomore Jaxon Willits put the Sooners on the board in the bottom half of the fourth, hitting his second home run of the season to left center.

The Sooners tied the contest in the fifth inning. After a leadoff single from freshman Kyle Branch, senior Scott Mudler doubled to right field to plate Branch. Three batters later, sophomore Jason Walk laced a two-out RBI double down the left line to tie the game at three.

In the bottom of the seventh, junior Dayton Tockey gave Oklahoma the lead on a pinch-hit RBI single after another leadoff hit from Branch. UVA tied the game at the top of the eighth on a two-out sacrifice fly.

Three scoreless innings ensued from the ninth through 11th with OU's bullpen arms of senior Dylan Crooks and freshman Jaden Barfield allowing just two baserunners.

The 12th innings saw a leadoff walk drawn by Mudler, followed by a single from sophomore Dasan Harris, setting the table for Willis' walkoff bunt single.

OU utilized seven pitchers in the game, with sophomore lefty Cameron Johnson getting the start and going three innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Middle relievers Gavyn Jones (2.1 IP), James Hitt (1.1), Michael Catalano (0.1) and Jason Bodin (1.0) kept the Cavaliers at bay as Oklahoma rallied, with Hitt striking out two and Jones fanning one. Crooks (3.0) and Barfield (1.0) combined to close the game for the Sooners, each striking out a pair and Barfield getting his first win in his collegiate debut, allowing no runs, hits or walks in the 11th.

In nine innings of relief work, the Oklahoma bullpen surrendered one earned run on one hit with three walks and seven strikeouts.

At the plate, Oklahoma put up five runs on 12 hits with nine Sooners recording a hit and four bringing in a run. Branch and junior Trey Gambill paced OU with 2-for-5 showings, and Tockey went 2-for-2 after entering at first base for the final five innings.

Oklahoma was crowned champions of the 2025 Round Rock Classic with the sweep, outscoring its opposition of Minnesota, No. 7 Oregon State and No. 2 Virginia 16-10 en route to the title. Branch was named tournament MVP while Mudler (catcher), Kyson Witherspoon (pitcher) and Easton Carmichael (DH) were also named to All-Tournament team.

The Sooners return home for a five-game homestand at L. Dale Mitchell Park starting Tuesday with a 4 p.m. game vs. Texas Southern (1-6). Tickets are available via SoonerSports.com/tickets and the game can be seen via SECN+.

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