Oklahoma Baseball: TCU tops OU, forces rubber game

After a dramatic Friday night win, the Oklahoma Sooners (23-9, 5-3) came up just short of another walk-off victory as they fell 4-2 to TCU (19-10, 4-4).

Nathan Wiles got the start on the hill for the Sooners going, 5.1 innings while allowing six hits and two earned runs, striking out four batters in the process. Wyatt Olds (0-2), who did well to get OU out of Wiles’ jam in the sixth before allowing a pair of runs in the seventh, earned the loss. Ryan Madden (0.1, BB), Ledgend Smith (1.0, H) and Aaron Brooks (1.2, H, 2K) did the rest of the work for the Sooners.

At the plate, the Sooners were able to record 11 hits but went 0-8 with runners in scoring position. On Friday, Oklahoma was able to break a terrible string of all-but-clutch performances at the plate, but the Sooners unfortunately returned to the less-than-stellar form during Saturday’s contest.

Brylie Ware went 2-4 after coming up with Friday’s walk-off hit, while Tyler Hardman and Jordan Vujovich also delivered multi-hit performances. Diego Muniz (HR) and Brendan Zaragoza (RBI groundout) contributed each of OU’s RBIs on the night.

As was the case on Friday, OU struck first in this one. After Hardman got aboard with a one-out single in the bottom of the second, Vujovich doubled to put two in scoring position for Zaragoza. The junior shortstop was able to put OU on the board with an RBI groundout, but the Sooners would strand a pair in the inning.

Muniz opened the bottom of the third with a solo rope over the wall in left – his second homer of his young collegiate career. However, the Sooners stranded a pair of runners once again, keeping the score at 2-0 and leaving the Frogs within striking distance.

In the top of the sixth, TCU tied the score with four consecutive one-out singles, which ended the day for Wiles. Olds then came in retire the next two hitters and keep it at 2-2. However, TCU would put two more on the board in the top of the seventh, but Ryan Madden was able to induce a crucial 1-6-3 double play to keep it at a manageable 4-2 deficit.

In the bottom of the ninth, Brady Harlan led things off with a single before Muniz drew a walk to put OU in some decent shape. On the next at-bat, Conor McKenna’s sacrifice bunt was successful, putting a runner at scoring position with one out for Friday’s hero, Brylie Ware. After Ware went down trying to check his swing, Justin Mitchell gave one a ride to the gap in left-center, but the ball was tracked down by Johnny Rizer to end the drama.

OU will face TCU in a rubber game on Sunday 1 p.m.