Acker No-Hits No. 14 LSU

Sunday, March 1

Houston, Texas

11 a.m.

University of Oklahoma

9-3

LSU

7-5

Oklahoma

LSU

Photo by: Joe Buvid

March 01, 2020 | Baseball

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HOUSTON – Dane Acker pitched Oklahoma's first nine-inning no-hitter since 1989 and Justin Mitchell hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to lead No. 15 Oklahoma past No. 14 LSU 1-0 Sunday at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park.

Acker (1-1) struck out 11 batters and allowed just two free passes in the first no-hitter in the 20-year history of the College Classic. The Brenham, Texas, product and transfer from San Jacinto College pitched Sunday with an estimated 40-50 family members and friends in the stands.

"That last inning, I just told myself to throw it in there and make them hit it, and let our guys make a play, and they did," Acker said. "Their pitcher did a great job as well, so it was just a battle all game. I just kept telling myself to calm down, take a breath, pound the zone and get in there and let my defense work."

Acker and LSU starter AJ Labas dueled with matching no-hitters for seven innings until the catcher Mitchell led off the eighth inning with his home run. It was the first homer of his collegiate career, and the first hit of the game for either team. Shortstop Brandon Zaragoza led off the ninth inning with a double.

"He went pitch to pitch. We talk about it a lot." Oklahoma head coach Skip Johnson said. "With his ability to throw three or four pitches for strikes, I thought early in the game he really established the fastball command. He just mixed and matched. What was ever suiting was Mitchell hit the home run, and he was the one that caught the game. I thought that was really cool. It was so special for (Dane). He works hard at it, and it was a great moment for him."

The no-hitter was Oklahoma's first individual nine-inning no-hitter since Jim Huslig in 1989 against Old Dominion. It was the 11th individual no-hitter in Big 12 history and first since 2017, and the first time the LSU program has been no-hit in a nine-inning game in recorded history. Acker's effort was also OU's first complete game since 2015 (Alec Hansen vs. Texas Tech) and first complete-game shutout since 2013 (Jonathan Gray vs. Northwestern State).

Labas (1-2) struck out seven over 8.0 innings, walked none and allowed one hit batter.

The Sooners (9-3) return home to L. Dale Mitchell Park for five games this week, beginning Tuesday against Dallas Baptist. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at SoonerSports.com.