Things looked bleak trough the first four and a half innings of OU's elimination game against Texas Tech, in the Big Twelve Tournament, on Thursday afternoon. The Red Raiders scored four runs in the top of the first and Oklahoma had no response at all. Then Tech added another run in the top of the fourth to increase their lead to 5-0. However, the Sooners showed some life in the bottom of the fifth when Kolbey Carpenter scored on a Sheldon Neuse single.
The Red Raiders added two more runs in the top of the sixth but it was too late as Oklahoma's bats were already awake. Over the final four innings of the game OU would chip away at Tech's 7-1 lead. Craig Aikin knocked in Hunter Haley and Anthony Hermelyn in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-3.
After an uneventful seventh, Carpenter led off the bottom the eighth with a solo home run. Four batters later Neuse would bring Dylan Neal in on a fielder's choice and then Mac James would sacrifice Aikin home to cut the score to 8-6 heading to the ninth.
Texas Tech blew a bases loaded opportunity in the top of the ninth and having dodged a bullet the Sooners were ready to complete their rally. Hunter Haley led off by being hit by a pitch and then Carpenter represented the tying run with a single through the left side. Neal sacrificed the two over to second and third base on a bunt and then Aikin delivered again. His single into left field scored scored Haley and but Oklahoma down just 8-7 with two runners on and the Big XII Freshman of the Year just two batters away.
Hector Lorenzana loaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch and then Sheldon Neuse singled to right field to score both Carpenter and Aikin and win the game 9-8 in walk-off fashion.
Craig Aikin finished the game going 4-of-6 from the plate with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored and Neuse recorded four RBI on two hits.
Texas Tech's Tyler Nelsony was 4-for-5 with 2 RBI and a run scored in the loss.
Oklahoma will now wait to play the loser of tonight's OSU/Texas game in another elimination game tomorrow. Texas Tech (40-18) will now wait for the NCAA's call to see where they'll be in the tournament.