NORMAN — Just like that, the OU baseball season is over.
Winning 14 games in the SEC — five of 10 series — and advancing to an NCAA regional final for the third time in the last four years is nothing to slouch about. But it’s clear the Sooners have issues to iron out.
OU fell to North Carolina 14-4 Monday in the Chapel Hill Regional after battling back from the loser’s bracket to win two games on Sunday. The Tar Heels are a legit contender to win the national title this season.
It should be a fascinating offseason as players decide whether or not to transfer, enter the MLB Draft or run it back with the Sooners next season.
Here are a few takeaways from OU’s inaugural season in the SEC and some things to watch as the offseason begins:
Defensive miscues proved costly
Skip Johnson said heading into the NCAA Tournament that his team needed to be better defensively to have a shot of advancing past a regional. OU’s defense wasn’t the only deciding factor in its losses but it played a part as the Sooners committed six errors in the regional.
During Monday’s win-or-go-home game, OU starting pitcher Reid Hensley retired the first two batters he faced. He then issued a walk and with two outs, regional MVP Gavin Gallaher reached on a throwing error by second baseman Kyle Branch, which extended the inning. What followed was ugly as North Carolina took a 3-0 lead in the first after a pair of singles.
Errors were a problem throughout the later portion of the season. The Sooners had more errors (three) than hits (two) when they fell to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament and in their regular season finale loss to Texas.
OU finished the season ranked 115th nationally in fielding percentage. The Sooners will need to be better defensively next season.
Witherspoon brothers didn’t disappoint, Sooners pitching review
The Witherspoon brothers were electric all season for OU.
Kyson was one of the best pitchers in the country in 2025, finishing with a 2.65 earned run average and a 124-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’s largely considered a top-10 to top-15 prospect in this year’s MLB Draft.
He was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Golden Spikes Award, which is presented annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country and was named to the USA TODAY Sports Network’s 2025 All-SEC baseball team. Kyson was also a member of the All-SEC First Team as a starting pitcher
Malachi vastly improved as the season went on, striking out eight-plus in four of his last seven outings. He hurled six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts while scattering three hits and walking two to open regional play with a win over Nebraska.
Malachi finished the season with a 5.09 ERA and is ranked as the No. 73 prospect in ESPN’s latest MLB Draft rankings.
Another pitcher who impressed as the season progressed was lefty Cade Crossland. Crossland finished the season with a 6.32 ERA. The Weatherford (TX) Junior College transfer is ranked as ESPN’s No. 76 prospect in the MLB Draft and threw a gem against Nebraska in the regional, striking out nine and allowing zero earned runs in seven innings.
Right-hander Dylan Tate is a name to watch. Before the season, the Jefferson (MO) Community College transfer was considered a possible MLB Draft pick due to his 98 mph fastball and wicked 88 mph slider.
Tate missed most of the season due to injury before impressing in five innings between two games late, striking out six and allowing one earned run. Keeping him on the roster would be a massive coup for the Sooners.
What’s next for OU baseball’s inconsistent offense?
It’s clear OU baseball needs more power to become a top-tier SEC club. The Sooners finished near the bottom of the conference in home runs.
OU’s offense struggled mightily when Dayton Tockey, who hit .271 this season, went down with injury for nearly a month. The Sooners never seemed to recover outside of brief stretches.
Easton Carmichael raised his draft stock with a phenomenal season for OU, hitting .329 and 17 home runs.
The Sooners should be aggressive in the transfer portal and aim to acquire more power to the lineup. Retention will also be important for OU as young players like Drew Dickerson and Jason Walk showed immense promise in 2025.
Dickerson, a freshman this season, hit three home runs during the regional. Walk had a strong sophomore season, hitting .267 with nine home runs and 18 stolen bases.
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU baseball season review: Defensive, offensive inconsistencies costly