OU Knocks Off Tech in Big 12 Tournament, 3-1

ARLINGTON, Texas - No. 17 Oklahoma stayed alive in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament Thursday morning with a 3-1 win over No. 22 Texas Tech in an elimination game at Ameriquest Field.

Oklahoma once again relied on a clutch pitching effort by senior starting pitcher Mark Roberts (9-4) to lead them to victory. Offensively, the Sooners made the most of their opportunities by successfully scoring three of the four leadoff hitters that reached base safely to begin an inning in the game.

OU (37-21) advances to play sixth-seed Baylor at 4 p.m. Friday.

Box Score | Big 12 Tournament Central

“Obviously Mark Roberts had another outstanding pitching performance for us today,” said Sooner head coach Larry Cochell.

“That's about as good of two performances as I've seen out of a pitcher in conference play,” continued Cochell referring to his starting effort last weekend at Nebraska.

Roberts, who is 5-1 in his career against the Red Raiders (38-19), dominated a Texas Tech lineup, which entered the tournament with the highest team batting average in the Big 12 at .318, through eight frames. He scattered four hits and allowed only seven baserunners during his stint. Between the first and sixth innings, he retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced.

Additionally, he fanned a career high 12 batters, averaging at least one an inning, to give him eight or more strikeouts for the fourth consecutive game and 11th time this season. His previous career best total was 11 set just two starts ago against Texas-Pan American. He has racked up 31 punch outs over his last three starts.

The lone run given up by Roberts came in the seventh inning on a leadoff home run by Texas Tech first baseman Josh Brady. It ended the Owasso, Okla., native's scoreless inning streak at 15 dating back to his previous start at Nebraska in which he shutout the Cornhuskers for nine innings.

Junior centerfielder Jeff Scuderi got the scoring started for the Sooners with a double to right field on the first pitch in the bottom half of the first inning. Sophomore second baseman Russell Raley (1-for-3) followed with a single to move Scuderi to third base before junior first baseman Ole Sheldon (0-for-4) grounded into a double play allowing Scuderi to come home for the first run.

Another lead off base hit turned into a productive at bat for Oklahoma in the fourth inning. Junior third baseman Matt Bose (1-for-4) reached second base to begin the bottom half of the frame on a single and a throwing error by the Texas Tech second baseman. Junior designated hitter Eric Thornton (2-for-4) then doubled into the right field corner to score Bose for a 2-0 OU advantage.

In the next inning, senior rightfielder Andrew McGuire (1-for-3) laid down a bunt towards first base and best it out for a base hit to start the inning. After being sacrificed to second base, sophomore second baseman Russell Raley (1-for-3) sent a fly ball to right field. The fly ball was deep enough to let McGuire advance to third base, but an errant throw down to third base by the Tech rightfielder went wildly past the receiver and allowed McGuire to score on the error.

Junior reliever Jarod McAuliff picked up his sixth save of the year by closing out the ninth inning. The outing tied the Stillwater, Okla., native's career best total of 35 appearances in a single season and leaves him one shy of the school's single-season mark.

OU Knocks Off Tech in Big 12 Tournament, 3-1

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OU Knocks Off Tech in Big 12 Tournament, 3-1

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