LUBBOCK, Texas — No. 22 Oklahoma started its three-game road series at Texas Tech with a 8-0 win in Lubbock on Friday night.
OU starting left-handed pitcher Braden Davis was lights out in the series opener, throwing seven scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits with two walks to go with eight strikeouts.
Senior Will Carsten entered in relief and completed OU’s fourth shutout of the season, hurling two scoreless with one strikeout. Davis and Carsten combined to allow the Red Raiders (30-18, 12-13) just four hits on the night.
The shutout marked the Sooners’ fourth of the season, their most since recording five in 2019. Additionally, it was the first time Tech has been shut out in 2024 and the first time OU has blanked the Red Raiders since 2013.
On a windy night, the OU offense manufactured runs without the long ball, still registering three extra-base hits and 12 hits overall.
After a scoreless first, the Sooners jumped on top 2-0 in the top of the second, courtesy of junior catcher Scott Mudler. With two on and two outs, Mudler dropped a two-run double into right center.
Davis continued to pitch a gem, working two more scoreless innings in the third and fourth before the Sooners’ offense gave him more run support in the top of the fifth.
The Sooners pushed across four runs on three hits and three Red Raider errors in the fifth. The flurry started with Mudler’s second double of the night. After the two-bag knock, freshman Jaxon Willits reached on an error before junior John Spikerman chopped a ball into shallow right field to score one. The next at-bat, senior Bryce Madron reached on an error as Willits and Spikerman raced home. Two batters later, an RBI single from senior Michael Snyder made it 6-0 Sooners.
Spikerman added to the lead again in the sixth with an RBI single to left field after senior Kendall Pettis drew a walk and stole second. An inning later, Jackson Nicklaus ripped a run-scoring triple to right center to score junior Anthony Mackenzie who reached via walk.
Davis (W, 6-3) put the Red Raiders down in order in the bottom of the seventh before exiting with a final line of: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K.
It marked Davis’ fourth straight Friday night victory, moving him to 5-1 in Big 12 play.
At the plate, Spikerman and Nicklaus paced OU with 3-for-4 and 3-for-5 nights, respectively, with Spikerman and Mudler bringing in a pair.
The teams meet for Game 2 at 1 p.m. CT Saturday, a time change from the originally-scheduled 2 p.m. start due to forecasted weather in the Lubbock area.
The series can be seen via Big 12 NOW on ESPN+. All games can be heard locally in Oklahoma on SportsTalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM or nationwide on The Varsity app with OU’s Toby Rowland on the call.
For updates and more information on Oklahoma baseball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.
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