DALLAS (Interstat) — Michael Catalano continued his dominant run with six hitless innings, and the Oklahoma Sooners’ offense erupted early to cruise past the Dallas Baptist Patriots 9-3 on Monday night at Ellis Davis Field House.

The Sooners (22-10) scored in four of the first five innings, racking up 13 hits to secure a road victory and sweep the two-game season series from the Patriots (18-15). The win defied pregame projections from Interstat, which gave Dallas Baptist a 51% probability to win and simulated a 6-4 Patriots victory.

Catalano, named the game’s top star, was untouchable. The right-hander struck out five and walked one, facing just one batter over the minimum. He retired the final 11 hitters he faced before exiting after the sixth inning. In his last start on March 31 against Oral Roberts, Catalano also threw five hitless innings. The Patriots did not record a hit until Keaton Grady’s one-out single in the first inning, but they stranded three runners as Catalano induced an inning-ending double play.

Oklahoma’s offense provided ample support, striking for a single run in the first inning before a decisive five-run third. Trey Gambill led off the scoring with an RBI groundout in the third, scoring Jaxon Willits, who had doubled. Brendan Brock followed with a solo home run to center field. After a pitching change, Nolan Stevens hit a back-to-back homer to right-center. Later in the inning, Drew Dickerson delivered a two-run single up the middle to cap the rally and extend the lead to 6-0.

The Sooners added three more in the fifth. With two runners in scoring position, Jason Walk laced a two-run double up the middle. He later scored on a sacrifice fly by Willits.

The Patriots, held to just two baserunners through six innings against Catalano, finally broke through in the seventh against reliever Isaac Williams. After two walks, Cooper Neville hit a three-run homer to right field, cutting the deficit to 9-3. The rally continued with a double by Grady, but Williams struck out Luke Pettitte to end the threat.

From there, the Oklahoma bullpen slammed the door. Mason Bixby took over in the eighth and struck out three over two perfect innings of relief to secure the win.

Brock led the Sooners’ offense, going 3 for 5 with a home run, two RBIs and a stolen base. Dickerson went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, while Walk drove in two runs. Gambill added two hits and an RBI.

For Dallas Baptist, Neville’s three-run homer accounted for all of the team’s scoring. The Patriots used six pitchers, with Jerrod Jenkins providing the most effective relief. He threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two. Michael Benzor and Armani Knipper also contributed scoreless outings.

The most important part of the game was Catalano’s masterful start, which completely stifled the Dallas Baptist lineup and allowed Oklahoma to build an insurmountable lead. His performance set the tone and rendered the Patriots’ late rally inconsequential.

Oklahoma next travels to face Vanderbilt for a three-game series starting Thursday. Dallas Baptist begins a three-game series at Sam Houston on Friday.