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    OU Softball: California Postgame Press Conference (5/21/23)

    OU Baseball: Oklahoma Collapses Against Texas Tech in Devastating Loss

    The Sooners had many chances to capitalize Thursday night, but Texas Tech's furious comeback took the top headline.

    After a magical win over Oklahoma State Wednesday afternoon, the Sooners had the same task Thursday night: Survive and advance in the Big 12 Tournament. 

    Sooner Magic ran dry though, as No. 6-seeded Texas Tech pulled off the improbable upset 10-9 in a back-and-forth thriller.

    the Red Raiders scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it.

    Four of Texas Tech's 10 runs were unearned, and the Sooners made costly mistakes in the field throughout the game. 

    Oklahoma (31-25, 11-13) led from the first inning to the ninth, which makes this loss a tough pill to swallow for Skip Johnson's club.

    Oklahoma was led by Anthony Mackenzie and John Spikerman, who both had two hits in four at-bats. Mackenzie’s double added two RBIs to his final stat line, while Bryce Madron recorded two runs batted in as well.

    Texas Tech (38-19, 12-12 Big 12) lit up the scoreboard behind Dylan Maxcey and Zac Vooletich's big showings. Maxcey finished the evening 3-of-5 with a home run and two RBIs, while Vooletic went 3-for-5, too.

    Braden Carmichael couldn’t quite go the distance like the last time he was on the mound, but he did his part regardless of what the stats say. He pitched five innings, allowing nine hits and five runs — but four runs and three hits came after a dropped fly ball in the infield with two outs.

    Taber Fast started for the Red Raiders, making it through just over three innings and allowing five runs and four hits. After Fast, Texas Tech tried five different pitchers to close out Oklahoma.

    The Sooners put the pressure on early behind a Spikerman single and a wild pitch, allowing him to advance to second base. Kendall Pettis stepped up second, and Fast fired past the catcher once again on an errant pitch. Spikerman sprinted home, but couldn’t quite beat the tag as the Red Raiders made the play at the plate.

    Two straight walks and a hit-by-pitch netted loaded bases for Oklahoma. Mackenzie was walked on the very next turn, putting the first run on the board for either side. With the bases still loaded and just one out, Easton Carmichael grounded into a double play, helping Texas Tech out of a disastrous jam.

    Oklahoma led 1-0 after the first inning, but it could’ve been much worse. It felt like a missed opportunity.

    In the second frame, Texas Tech’s mishaps continued. Wallace Clark was walked and Jackson Nicklaus singled by third base. After Spikerman struck out, Pettis fired a tricky ground ball to third that was mishandled, allowing both Clark and Nicklaus to march home.

    Behind a one-hit inning, Oklahoma placed two runs on the scoreboard and extended its lead to 3-0.

    After a Texas Tech double to start things off in the bottom of the third, Carmichael had his first situation of the ball game. He walked Nolen Hester, and Gage Harrelson notched a single, loading the bases for the Red Raiders. The pressure was short lived, though, as an impressive double play helped the Sooners out of the inning in a hurry. Texas Tech scored no runs despite recording two hits and a free base.

    The fourth inning brought fireworks in both directions. The Sooners started the party with a Nicklaus single and two straight walks, setting up Madron for a two-RBI single to first base. Oklahoma led 5-0 heading to the bottom of the inning.

    The Sooners’ defense imploded during Texas Tech’s cycle through the order. With two outs on the board, Nicklaus dropped a routine fly ball hit high to second, allowing an immediate run across the plate. Three straight hits after the error brought in three more Red Raider runs, effectively bringing Texas Tech right back into the game.

    After the fourth inning, Oklahoma led 5-4.

    Most of the Sooners’ momentum through the first four innings came from walks and wild pitches by Texas Tech. But in the fifth inning, Oklahoma’s bats came alive. Mackenzie started things off with a double to left field, and with two outs on the board, Clark ripped an identical shot to nearly the same spot. The double brought Mackenzie home and added a run for the Sooners.

    Texas Tech’s offensive momentum carried over, starting with a leadoff double from Austin Green. After a Vooletich single to left center, the Red Raiders made up for the lost run in the frame before, cutting the deficit in half.

    Heading to the sixth, Oklahoma led 6-5.

    Texas Tech’s pitching woes continued in the sixth inning, immediately walking the first three Oklahoma batters. A wild pitch allowed Spikerman to score, and a sacrifice bunt brought Pettis home. Mackenzie kept the momentum rolling, singling to left center and bringing Madron across the plate.

    The Sooners put Texas Tech to rest quietly in the bottom of the inning, securing a 9-5 lead.

    Texas Tech continued its comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh inning. After putting the Sooners out in order, Maxcey drilled a two-run home run to left field, bringing White across the plate too. Heading to the eighth, Oklahoma’s lead sat at 9-7.

    Both teams held steady in the eighth, setting up an exciting finish down the stretch. After OU’s scoreless ninth, it was up to the defense to come up big.

    Vooletich singled to left center for the Red Raiders’ first action of the inning, immediately followed by a walk, placing the tying run at first. Texas Tech then ripped off three hits in a row, tying the game at 9-9. With the game on the line Kevin Bazzell found a gap in Oklahoma’s defense and walked it off, sending home the game-winning run and advancing.

    In what looked like an easy win at multiple stops throughout the game, Oklahoma ultimately blew a huge opportunity. Fielding mistakes and late pitching bit the Sooners big time, and there weren’t enough insurance runs to go around.

    It'll go down as a disappointing loss for Oklahoma, as the team will look to regroup on a quick turnaround. The Sooners will play Oklahoma State for a sixth time this season at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

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