Oklahoma Sooners Baseball: Big 12 Tournament run ends as OU falls to Baylor, 10-3

After pulling out a pair of impressive, short-handed wins against Texas and Kansas, the Oklahoma Sooners fell to the Baylor Bears — who have now won 21 of their last 24 games — for the second time this week in the Big 12 Tournament at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The 10-3 loss dropped OU to 36-23 on the season.

OU will learn its NCAA Tournament situation on Monday at 11 a.m. CT during ESPNU’s selection show. The Sooners had and RPI ranking in the mid-30s entering the day and are considered a likely pick to be sent to a regional.

Devon Perez started for the Sooners on Saturday morning allowing five runs (four earned) and five hits in 5.2 innings of work. The loss dropped Perez to 5-5 on the season.

Baylor got the scoring started in the top of the second when Mendenhall’s throwing error allowed Davion Downey to score from second base. The play seemed to be the result of freshman first baseman Cade Cavalli not staying home, which forced Devon Perez to race over to first to field Mendenhall’s throw.

OU struck back in the bottom of the third when freshman catcher Justin Mitchell’s line drive narrowly avoided the glove of the Baylor outfielder, scoring Ware from first and allowing Mitchell to record a triple for the second time in as many days.

Fireworks ensued in the fourth when Davion Downey sent a two-run shot over the wall in right to give Baylor a 3-1 lead. However, OU responded with a pair of runs when Cade Harris knocked one off the right field wall to record a triple and bring DeRenzo and Hughes home.

OU pitching unraveled in the top of the sixth when Baylor scored three runs on two hits, three walks and an error, all of which occurred with two outs. The Bears tacked on a couple more when Nick Loftin singled to drive in a pair on the top of the eighth, making it 8-3. Baylor made it 10-3 with a HBP, a walk, a single and a sac fly.

Baylor will face either TCU or West Virginia in Sunday’s championship game.