Texas Tech isn't the same team Oklahoma has dealt with in recent years. But given OU's SEC series loss to Alabama over the weekend, the Sooners didn't mind so much.
No. 9 Oklahoma knocked off their former Big 12 rivals in a one-off midweek game Tuesday, 8-6. The Sooners used a four-run third inning to break things open but ultimately had to hang on as Texas Tech brought the potential game-tying run to the plate in the ninth.
The Red Raiders trailed 8-3 entering the eighth inning, but a Logan Hughes solo home run in the frame and Antonelli Savaterre's triple combined with Hughes' RBI single in the ninth to make things interesting. Hughes' single, however, came with two outs and Dylan Crooks retired the next batter to leave Hughes stranded to end the game.
Oklahoma ended up needing its four-run inning. All four OU hits in the third resulted in runs. Drew Dickerson and Dasan Harris each had RBI singles, turning a 1-1 game into a 3-1 lead. Harris' knock came with two outs. As did Jason Walk's RBI double and Easton Carmichael closed out the inning's scoring with an RBI single to knock in Walk.
The big inning provided some breathing room for Sooners' pitchers. Tech had just one hit through the first five innings. Even then, the Red Raiders finished with just five hits, as eight different Oklahoma pitchers kept the Tech bats relatively quiet, but struggled with walks and hit batters, giving up eight and two, respectively.
Walk, Carmichael, and Harris all had three hits for OU. Walk's all went for extra bases as he finished 3 of 4 with two doubles, a home run, two walks, two RBI and two runs. Carmichael also homered for the Sooners, as did Jaxon Willits.
Tech is in danger of its first losing season since 2010 as the Red Raiders fell to 8-17 on the season. OU, which returns to Southeastern Conference play Thursday through Saturday against No. 6 LSU, lifted its record to 23-5.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma baseball holds off Texas Tech rally
