In Athens, great game, great series, marred by Sooner miscues

Oklahoma’s Scott Mudler runs to first base after hitting what became a two-run double in the second inning Tuesday at Georgia. (OU Athletics Photo)

Oklahoma fell 6-3 at Georgia Saturday afternoon, its second straight loss after derailing the ninth-ranked Bulldogs on Friday and it was a terrific game for many good reasons.

Georgia shortstop Kolby Branch finally got the best of younger brother Kyle, the Sooner second baseman, netting three hits in as many at bats, one of them a home run, knocking in two.

OU center fielder Jason Walk tracking everything down, including a top-of-the-wall leaping grab he treated so wonderfully casually in pursuit, the guys calling the game on SEC Network were certain he’d given up on it, the ball hit too far.

Only, by inches, it wasn’t.

There were two pitchers who were mostly terrific in Sooner starter Malachi Witherspoon, who allowed four hits and one earned run, striking out seven against a single walk over six innings, and Bulldog starter Leighton Finley, who allowed four hits and two runs over five, also striking out seven and walking one.

There was bad blood.

Walk got plunked twice by Finley, though neither seemed a purpose pitch.

Georgia’s Brennan Hudson got plunked once, in the bottom of the eighth on a 3-0 delivery from Dylan Crooks, who’d hit just one batter over 16 previous appearances and 21 2/3 innings, that absolutely appeared to be a purpose pitch, catching Hudson square in the back.

Hudson, who happened to deliver the game’s biggest blow his previous turn at the plate, a three-run blast in the sixth inning, was not pleased.

So there was all that, which was great drama, great fun and great baseball that might go a long way toward creating a great rivalry.

But there were other things, too, the Sooners just can’t have with conference series remaining against 18th-ranked Ole Miss, Kentucky, and No. 1 Texas.

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