Oklahoma Sooners Drop Series Opener To TCU Horned Frogs 5-4

In order to secure the regular season Big XII Title, the Oklahoma Sooners needed a sweep of the TCU Horned Frogs at home in Norman. Playing with a 4-2 lead, Pete Hughes and company failed to seize the opportunity. On the other hand, TCU strung together a couple of singles in the ninth inning. A throw down to second skipped into center field allowing the Horned Frogs to break the tie putting all the pressure back on the home team. Unable to answer, OU eventually fell 5-4 to the No. 3 team in the country.

To open the evening, Craig Aikin reached base after being hit by a pitch. A single by Kolbey Carpenter moved Aikin, a speedster, over to third before Anthony Hermelyn brought him home. The RBI-single marked the 40th of the season for the junior infielder.

On the mound Jake Elliot held his own while keeping batters guessing. However, Cody Jones saw a pitch he liked sending it over the wall effectively erasing the early deficit. Building off the success, the Horned Frogs took their first lead of the night in the fifth as Derek Odell doubled off the wall.

Answering the challenge, the Sooners put up a three-spot in the bottom half of the inning to regain the lead. From that point on, Oklahoma remained scoreless watching Connor Wanhanen cross the plate on a throwing error and later Keaton Jones homer to tie the game at 4-4.

Unfortunately, errors proved costly as the game winning run came home for TCU on a throw down to second that bounced into center field for the Sooners. The two square off once again on Friday at 6:00 PM in Norman.