No. 22 Oklahoma won 7-5 Saturday afternoon in Lubbock, defeating Texas Tech and clinching the series.
The win marks Oklahoma (28-17, 17-6) in its fifth conference series of the season and gives it its second straight series win over Tech (30-19, 12-14) in Lubbock. .
OU earned its 17th win in Big 12 play on Saturday, tying the most wins in conference play since 2009.
With the team’s complete victory, Osaka University advanced to the Series W, with the offensive team scoring 7 runs and 11 hits, including 2 home runs. The pitching staff of starter Kyson Witherspoon and relievers Carter Campbell, Dylan Crooks and Malachi Witherspoon held Tech’s powerful offense to just five runs on seven hits, with all five runs coming in the final four innings. I stole it.
OU further extended its lead early, scoring a pair in the top of the first inning. After fourth-year player Bryce Madrone hit a double, sophomore Easton Carmichael hit an RBI hit down the left field line. Two batters later, before the Red Raiders came to bat, senior Anthony McKenzie hit a single to Carmichael for a two-run lead.
OU’s starting RHP Kyson Witherspoon was consistent, pitching five scoreless innings to start, a day after junior Braden Davis and senior Will Kirsten shut out the Red Raiders.
The Sooners provided plenty of insurance in the top of the fifth inning, scoring four runs on four hits. Madrone’s leadoff home run, his team-leading 10th of the season, was the beginning of an offensive explosion. After a single by Carmichael, a stolen base, and an HBP by senior Michael Snyder, McKenzie hit a three-run homer to right, his sixth of the season.
Tech scored its first run of the series with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning after the Sooner Arms held the Red Raiders scoreless for 14 innings.
Witherspoon was eliminated in seven innings with a 6.2 IP, H4, ER3, ER5, BB5, and K7. The right-handed pitcher had at least seven strikeouts in his fifth appearance this year.
Reliever Carter Campbell and Dylan Crooks combined to finish the seventh inning, and the Red Raiders put up two runs with a two-run single. To save the day, the impostor induced a groundout, stranding the pair.
The Sooners got one run back in the top of the eighth inning, again on Madrone’s at-bat. Fellow senior Kendall Pettis scored with an HBP and walked junior John Spikerman before Madrone hit an RBI single into the right field seats, scoring Pettis. Spikerman was ruled out at the plate after review for a double steal attempt, ending OU’s threat of having runners on the corners on plays at the plate.
Tech got within two runs with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, but sophomore closer Malachi Witherspoon struck back with a strikeout, sealing OU’s victory and series championship.
Madrone stepped up to bat in his seventh game of the season and went 3-for-4 with one home run, two RBIs, and two stolen bases. McKenzie had 2 hits for 5 at bats and scored 4 runs. Seven Sooners had a base hit in this game.
OU has already secured a spot in the Big 12 Championship in Arlington and sits atop the conference standings by two games heading into Sunday.
The teams will meet for the final game of the series on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. The game can be watched via Big 12 NOW on ESPN+. All games can be heard locally in Oklahoma on Sports Talk 1400 AM/99.3 FM or nationally on his The Varsity app, where his OU Toby Rowland calls.
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