From OU Media Relations
LUBBOCK, Texas — No. 22 Oklahoma State University started its three-game road series at Texas Tech with an 8-0 win in Lubbock.
OU left-hander Braden Davis pitched well in the series opener, pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
Senior Will Karsten came in as a reliever and pitched two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth innings, with one strikeout, earning his fourth shutout of the season.
The shutout marked the Sooners' fourth of the season (27-17, 16-6) and the most since 2019, when they had five shutouts. Additionally, it was the first time Tech had a shutout in 2024 and the first time OU had a shutout. He has been with the Red Raiders since 2013.
OU remains in first place in the Big 12 standings, one game behind West Virginia and two games behind Texas and Oklahoma State. OU also qualified for the Big 12 Tournament.
With tonight's victory, @OU_Baseball We have earned the right to participate in the 2024 B12 tournament. OU was the only school to accomplish that feat, appearing in the tournament every year as a member of the B12 from 1997 until 2024.
— Toby Rowland (@TRowOU) May 4, 2024
On a windy night in Lubbock, OU's offense scored without long balls and still had three extra-base hits and 12 hits overall.
After a scoreless first inning, the Sooners went up 2-0 in the top of the second thanks to junior catcher Scott Maddler. With two outs and second base, Muddler hit a two-run double to right-center field.
Davis continued to pitch like a gem, pitching two more scoreless innings in the third and fourth innings, and the Sooner offense gave up another run in the top of the fifth.
The Sooners put up four runs in the fifth inning on three hits and three Red Raider errors. The turmoil began with Muddler's second double of the night. After a two-bag knock, freshman Jackson Willits reached on an error, then junior John Spikerman scored the ball to shallow right field for a point. In his next at-bat, senior Bryce Madrone committed an error as Willits and Spikerman rushed home. Two batters later, senior Michael Snyder's RBI put the Sooners up 6-0.
Spikerman extended his lead again in the sixth inning with an RBI single to left field after senior Kendall Pettis walked him for a double. One inning later, Nicklaus hit a scoring triple to right-center field, scoring junior Anthony McKenzie, who reached base on a walk.
Davis (6-3) took down the Red Raiders (30-18, 12-13) in order in the bottom of the seventh inning, finishing with 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, and 8 K. He has a 1.44 ERA in his last four starts. Davis now has a four-game winning streak going into Friday night and is now 5-1 in Big 12 play.
At the plate, Spikerman and Nicklaus paced OU at 3-for-4 and 3-for-5, respectively, with Spikerman and Muddler providing a pair.
Both teams will meet for Game 2 on Saturday at 1 p.m., but the time has been moved from the originally scheduled 2 p.m. start due to predicted weather in the Lubbock area.
