Sooners fall in Big 12 Tournament championship vs. OSU, 9-3

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Sooners’ run in Arlington at the Big 12 Tournament came to an end Saturday night in a 9-3 loss to Oklahoma State. 

Frustrating to say the least for the Sooners baseball team, who finishes the year 1-4 against their in-state rival from Payne County. 

Even more frustrating after the start from Carter Campbell who kept Oklahoma within striking distance in the early innings. Just one of those nights for Oklahoma offensively, after the highs of a comeback semifinal win 24 hours prior.

“Hats off to Oklahoma State for winning. That’s good for them. I thought we never gave in at the plate. Just could never get a rally sustained as we got going. We get a couple guys on and just couldn’t get a rally to get going. A loss is probably a good thing going into a regional. It’ll probably make us work even harder this week and get prepared for regionals,” said Skip Johnson. 

Trailing 4-0 in the fifth, Oklahoma attempted to mount a comeback. Kendall Pettis led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. Jason Walk singled through the left side. And finally John Spikerman got something to go his way with an RBI double. Easton Carmichael added a sacrifice fly before Jaxon Willits struck out to end the frame. 

BIG BLOW SEVENTH

But the big blow came in the Cowboys’ seventh. With two on and one out, Dylan Crooks didn’t get a call on an 0-2 pitch Nolan Schubart. The next pitch? Schubart hammered over the centerfield wall. A two-run game had turned into a five run game with one swing of the bat. 

Tough luck for Crooks who threw 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. 

“If you’re asking me what pitches we’d want back, there’s probably two that we threw to (Schubart). The 0-2 pitch I’d like to have that but it’s baseball and the next pitch we got up and that’s baseball. He’s a good hitter. And sometimes you can’t make that mistake on a good hitter,” said Johnson. “I thought the 0-2 pitch was there but that’s just baseball. I love umpires. That’s just part of baseball.” 

Oklahoma State added to the lead in the eighth with back-to-back home runs from Kollin Ritchie and Ian Daugherty. 

Easton Carmichael added an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning. 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Seven Sooners were named to the All-Tournament team: Jackson Nicklaus, Anthony Mackenzie, Jaxon Willits, Easton Carmichael, Kendall Pettis, Braden Davis and Grant Stevens. 

Pettis led Oklahoma in hitting over the course of the weekend, going 8-for-12 in Arlington and a catch on Wednesday in left field that landed No. 1 on Sportscenter’s Top Plays. A step in the right direction for the senior outfielder heading into next week’s NCAA Regional. 

“Our offense has been really good all year. I kind of took some time to myself and decided it’s postseason and this could be my last time playing. If I don’t get picked up by anybody (after the season), then I’m done playing forever. Just going out there and playing like it’s my last time every time. So I just took that mindset into this weekend and the rest of the postseason. Hopefully, I can stay hot and keep that mindset. Keep looking for good pitches to hit,” said Pettis. 

Braden Davis threw a complete game shutout in the Sooners opening game of the Big 12 Tournament against TCU. He’s won seven consecutive starts for Oklahoma on the mound. 

Grant Stevens threw 5.1 innings in Friday’s 8-6 semifinal win over Kansas that was capped by a Jackson Nicklaus walk-off two run home run. 

MOVING ONTO REGIONALS 

Now Oklahoma will wait for Monday morning’s regional assignment from the NCAA Tournament committee.

Sooners head coach Skip Johnson feels good about the Sooners chances of being named a top 8 national seed in which Oklahoma would host a regional in Norman for the first time since 2010 and possibly a Super Regional at L. Dale Mitchell Ballpark for the first time ever. 

“I think so. For sure. Winning the conference and in the fashion we won our league in for sure there’s no doubt about that, and especially the way we came here and played. It’s like I told the guys in the locker room that got us prepared and even though we lost today, it got us prepared for next week and to play those games and get ready for a championship. It was pretty awesome,” said Johnson. 

Oklahoma has been a national seed in the NCAA Tournament just one time in the program’s history. They were the No. 7 seed overall in 2009. 

The NCAA Tournament selection show begins Monday morning at 11 a.m.. Regional host sites will be announced on Sunday.