Bedlam baseball: Pitchers have become the feature acts

“It's a huge honor for me. It's giving me goose bumps right now. I can't wait for the opportunity and to show everybody what I can do.”

John, also with three complete games, ranks second in the Big 12 with eight wins and is fifth in strikeouts (76) and sixth in ERA (2.36). He's gone at least seven innings in all six of his starts since moving out of the bullpen and has allowed but one earned run in each of his last two starts, both complete game victories.

“I don't really know a lot of guys on their team, but I know they can pitch,” Heaney said. “I know they've got some lefties that are good and obviously they've got a couple of righties who can run it up pretty high on the radar gun. They can pitch it.”

Like John, Heaney said he's looking forward to the matchup.

“It's going to be fun, pitching in Tulsa, it'll be sold out,” he said. “It's a game you get up for. If you win, it sets the tone early and you feel good about the weekend. You've already got an upper hand. It's a tone-setter.

“We want to let them know how we're going to play all weekend. It's not only setting the tone for the series, but for your own team and your guys.”

Strong pitching extends beyond the aces for both teams.

The Sooners, 26-4 when holding opponents to five runs or less, follow John with Jonathan Gray and Dillon Overton, two starters with a combined nine wins who are capable of fronting a rotation. Then there's the wild card, Damien Magnifico, who can start or relieve and bring consistently bring fastballs at 100 mph.

Cowboys lefty Kyle Ottoson, who pitched in a Super Regional for Arizona State a year ago and has been drafted four times, has already beaten the Sooners once this season and carries a 3.12 ERA. And Vince Wheeland, who has emerged of late, is 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA. Out of the bullpen, relievers Blake Barnes and Chase Stephens have accounted for a combined nine wins and four saves.

Overall, OSU leads the Big 12 and strikeouts (375) and ranks fifth nationally at 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

“We've been pitching it real well this entire season,” Heaney said. “Early on we were struggling hitting, but at this point we've gotten really hot. We're on a little streak and we're feeling pretty good about it. Hopefully, we can keep that going.”