OU Baseball: Oklahoma Outlasts No. 13 TCU to Even Series

Braxton Douthit dazzled on the mound and John Spikerman picked up the clutch hit in the huge win for the Sooners.

A big time win in a big time game.

After losing big in the Big 12 opener on Friday, Oklahoma resumed their series with No. 13 TCU on Saturday afternoon at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman.

Behind excellent pitching and a timely hit from one of OU’s leaders, the Sooners (12-7, 1-1) found a way to best the Horned Frogs (10-8, 1-1) this time around by a low-scoring final mark of 3-1.

Getting the start on the mound for Oklahoma was right-hander Braxton Douthit (3-0), who turned in an absolutely dazzling performance on Saturday.

The Lamar transfer continued the strong start to his OU tenure, working into the seventh inning without allowing a run and only giving up a single hit.

Matching him through four innings was TCU starter Kole Klecker, as the game went to the fifth still looking for its first run.

Enter John Spikerman.

With two outs and two men on, the Oklahoma center fielder ripped a triple down the right field line - plating two runs and giving the Sooners the lead.

That's a triple 💪@jg__spikerman23 drives home two and the Sooners are 🆙 pic.twitter.com/PdncqC8CK1

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 18, 2023

After another shutdown inning from Douthit in the sixth, TCU would then threaten in the seventh.

The Horned Frogs loaded the bases with one out against right-hander Aaron Weber, giving themselves a great opportunity to tie things up or even take the lead.

But, the OU reliever stepped up in massive fashion - forcing a huge 6-4-3 double play to close the inning and keep the Sooners ahead 2-0.

📞 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐓 𝐔𝐏 📞

📺 ESPN+ | https://t.co/K8e1Uym8FT pic.twitter.com/eisJO3Lluu

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 18, 2023

TCU would break onto the scoreboard, however, in the following frame as Brayden Taylor pulverized a two-out solo homer to right to cut the Oklahoma lead in half.

The Sooners, though, would immediately get that run right back.

Clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom half of the eighth, Jackson Nicklaus cashed in with a welcomed insurance run on a sacrifice fly that brought Rocco Garza-Gongora in to score. 

OU took a 3-1 lead into the ninth needing just three outs to secure the victory. Weber then obliged with said outs, recording them in order to seal the deal. 

The win gets Oklahoma on the board in conference play and sets up a highly-interesting rubber match tomorrow with left-hander James Hitt expected to get the start for the Sooners. 

Game 3 of the series is set for 2 p.m. back at L. Dale Mitchell Park on Sunday.