Sooners Run Rule Texas Tech In Series Finale

Junior right fielder Bryce Madron and sophomore second baseman Jackson Nicklaus teamed up for three home runs and Oklahoma baseball earned the 12-2 run-rule victory against No. 21 Texas Tech on Sunday evening at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

In addition to the power display, Oklahoma starting pitcher Braden Carmichael dominated on the mound, pitching 7.1 innings with one earned run. Carmichael earned the win (2-0) and tallied five strikeouts

"He [Braden] really settled in a little bit and started making some pitches," said Oklahoma head baseball coach Skip Johnson. "Kind of kept them off balance. Overcame a pop up over here that we probably should've caught and then, he got it going a little bit and we got the lead." 

Junior first baseman Anthony Mackenzie walked with two outs in the second and Nicklaus put the Sooners on the board with a two-run blast.

The Sooner added to the tally in the next inning on a solo home run by Madron.

Oklahoma (19-18, 4-8 Big 12) held a 3-1 advantage after four and separated itself with four runs in the fifth.

Sophomore third baseman Wallace Clark opened the inning with a walk and the Sooners had runners on first and second after a single by freshman left fielder Rocco Garza-Gongora. An error by the Texas Tech catcher loaded the bases. Madron slashed a single through the right side to score Clark. After a Texas Tech pitching change, junior shortstop Dakota Harris recorded a sacrifice fly, plating the second run of the inning. Down to their last out, sophomore center fielder John Spikerman laced a two-out double down the right field line, scoring the final two runs of the inning.

With the bases loaded after a pair of singles and a walk, Nicklaus added to his RBI total in the seventh on a double to left center that cleared the bases.

After Texas Tech (25-12, 6-6 Big 12) narrowed the Sooners advantage to eight with a solo run in the eighth, Madron ended the contest with a two-run homer to right, reaching the 10-run difference needed on Sunday.

"The biggest thing is you got to stay positive and try to do things," said Johnson. "There's constructive criticism that goes along with it but I think the biggest thing they've learned is that they can play with a lot of guys." 

Madron finished 4 for 5 at the plate with four RBI and a pair of home runs. Spikerman went 2 of 4 at the dish with a two RBI. Nickalus went 3 for 4 and recorded a team-high five RBI. He finished the series 6 for 10 at the plate with a team-best 11 RBI.

Texas Tech's Jacob Rogers earned the loss (1-2).

UP NEXT

The Sooners head to Stillwater for a Tuesday meeting against Oklahoma State.