OU Baseball: Oklahoma Rallies to Beat No. 13 TCU, Take Series

The Sooners trailed by two in the late innings, but came through with several clutch at-bats to rally and take the lead and get the win.

A thrilling win to close out the weekend.

After taking the middle game of their Big 12 play-opening series on Saturday, Oklahoma returned to action on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game set against No. 13 TCU at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman.

On the heels of a sensational two-out rally in the seventh inning, the Sooners (13-7, 2-1) once again found a way to hang on and outlast the Horned Frogs (10-9, 1-2) in the weekend finale - winning the series finale by a margin of 7-5.

Getting the Sunday start for Oklahoma was left-hander James Hitt, who began his day very solidly working three shutout frames allowing just one hit.

But, in a scoreless game in the fourth, TCU would finally get to Hitt scratching across two runs before Brayden Taylor smashed a solo homer in the fifth to have the Frogs leading 3-0 at the game’s midway point.

But, as they always do, OU would battle back.

In the bottom of the fifth, Oklahoma got two runs back on RBIs from Bryce Madron and Dakota Harris.

One inning later, the Sooners then evened the game with Rocco Garza-Gongora getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

It wouldn’t take the Horned Frogs long to regain their advantage, though, as Karson Bowen put TCU back in the lead with a two-run knock just one frame later.

The score would remain 5-3 heading into the seventh inning stretch. 

Then came the rally.

With two outs and nobody on base, the Sooners rallied to plate four runs with John Spikerman and Anthony Mackenzie delivering the big swings.

As a pinch hitter, Spikerman hit a rocket to second base that was mishandled, allowing Diego Muniz and Easton Carmichael to scamper around and even the game.

Mackenzie then followed Spikerman up with a laced two-run single to give OU their first lead of the afternoon.

𝐌𝐚𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧

💻 https://t.co/LAgRHKFXiX#COMPETE | #CHAOUS | @AnthonyMacken11 pic.twitter.com/kMvpzNddnH

— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) March 19, 2023

The clutch hitting in the seventh would prove to be the difference, as Carson Pierce, Carter Campbell and Aaron Weber then teamed up to record the final six outs and lock up the win and the series.

The come-from-behind victory gets Oklahoma off on the right foot in conference play as they take the set against one of the league’s top teams.

After one day off from game action, the Sooners will stay home for a midweek bout with Dallas Baptist on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. back at L. Dale Mitchell Park.