Freshman Nick Wesloski Shines as OU Baseball Advances to CWS Championship Series

OMAHA, NE — Nick Wesloski, the standout freshman pitcher for Oklahoma, made a significant impact during the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field, exiting the dugout to greet Sooners quarterback John Mateer, a former high school rival. "It was a positive day overall," Wesloski remarked after his stellar performance.

The right-handed pitcher, who is just starting his collegiate career, proved he can handle the pressure, delivering an impressive outing against Georgia. In his second start, Wesloski allowed only four hits, one earned run, and issued two walks while striking out four batters over 5 ⅔ innings, leading the Sooners to an 11-4 victory and securing a spot in the championship series for the second time in five years.

Wesloski's success adds to the remarkable contributions from fellow freshmen pitchers Xander Mercurius and Cord Rager, who, together, have combined for 20 innings, 21 strikeouts, and an impressive 1.80 ERA during the CWS. This achievement marks a rare occurrence, as OU becomes only the second program since 1999 to start three freshmen in consecutive College World Series games. Wesloski had previously pitched more than 3 ⅓ innings just once this season, showcasing his growth as he stepped up on the big stage. His pitching coach, Johnson, noted that Wesloski's calm demeanor reminded him of past performances. "He faced a team in The Citadel, they had all older guys and they were really good players. It was a really good baseball team and he pitched extremely well there," Johnson said.

The late Jim Gatewood, a former high school coach, played a key role in identifying Wesloski's talent, and his memory weighed on Johnson as he watched Wesloski excel. The Sooners will now face North Carolina in a best-of-three series starting Saturday, and they will need more stellar performances from their freshmen to claim the national title.

With a calm demeanor and the support of his teammates, Wesloski is ready for the challenge ahead. "Cord and Xander, those two have been the most inspirational, influential for me throughout the season," he said, reflecting on how their success boosted his confidence.