OU baseball: Sunny Golloway performs face-lift on Sooners' lineup, rotation

He pushed and prodded and pulled some strings, forcing a face-lift on his lineup and his rotation.

Suddenly, following a Big 12 series victory and a midweek win over Oral Roberts, maybe Oklahoma isn't so unattractive after all, warranting a second glance.

“We can't be afraid to make changes and try things,” Golloway said.

Oh, Golloway never shies from trying things.

Lineup changes. Role changes. Motivational ploys.

Golloway has tried them all.

And after the Sooners were swept at home by Texas the opening weekend of conference play, continuing a stretch of ragged play, Golloway tried them all.

An injury to center fielder Eric Ross may have set the wheels in motion, but Golloway did the rest.

First, Max White — “Our best pure athlete,” Galloway said — was shifted from first base to center field.

Freshman catcher Tyler Lockwood took over at first, clearing the way for Dylan Neal, another freshman, to step off the bench behind the plate.

“We went form being pretty good behind the plate to being really good,” Golloway said.

Sensing a need for speed in the outfield, Brian Brightwell, yet another freshman, bumped Evan Mistich from left field to designated hitter.

And it didn't stop there.

Former closer Jordan John moved into the Friday night pitching role, with unbeaten Dillon Overton sliding into the Saturday slot.

“I believe Saturday is the most important day, period,” Golloway said. “If you lose Game 1, you've got to win Game 2. And if you win Game 1, you can win the series with Game 2.”