Crucial mistakes early in Wednesday’s opener of the Big 12 Tournament sent Oklahoma to the losers bracket. The Sooners weren’t going to let lightening strike twice and got off to a much better start against Texas on Thursday morning.
“I thought they played a really good game, really unselfish. Starting the game off, Wiles set the tone by pounding the strike zone like he always does. We took the momentum in the first inning by scoring a run, which is always good,” – Oklahoma Head Coach Skip Johnson
Nathan Wiles struck out four Texas batters, allowing just one run, through the first four innings, and then Skip Johnson turned to his bullpen. Oklahoma’s relief pitchers held the Longhorns to just one more hit through the remaining five innings, with freshman Levi Prater picking up his third win of the season.
Levi Prater is FIRED UP! The @OU_Baseball reliever comes in and gets a double play and a huge K to escape the inning with minimal damage.#Big12BSB | #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/M5JQN30CZf
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) May 24, 2018
Cade Harris led off the game with a single to right and then was driven in by Kyler Murray who hummed a line drive down the left field line to put OU in front 1-0 in the first inning.
Blake Brewster launched his second home run of the season in the third inning to boost Oklahoma’s lead to 2-0.
In the fifth it was Domenic DeRenzo bringing in Oklahoma third, and final, run of the day with an RBI double to the right-center field gap. Texas responded with their only run of the day in the bottom of the fifth but that would be it for the Longhorns on the scoreboard.
Second two-bagger of the year for Dom DeRenzo. And it was a big one. pic.twitter.com/c0vyce0fsu
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) May 24, 2018
OU’s 3-1 win over Texas keeps the Sooners alive in the Big 12 Tournament. They will face Kansas at 3:15 on Friday afternoon in their second consecutive elimination game.
Reaction from the dugout. #Sooners defeat Texas at the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 2001. pic.twitter.com/PWfIRaMTfF
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) May 24, 2018