Two weeks ago, Oklahoma and Baylor, then ranked No. 2 in the country, met in a three-game series in Norman. The Sooners swept the conference-champion Bears, giving them their first loss in 18 consecutive games. Two of the games were decided by single runs, so it was reasonable to assume that when the same two teams met Thursday in the winner's bracket of the Big 12 Baseball Championship in Oklahoma City the game would be closely contested.
And that's exactly what happened. The Sooners pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth to break a 2-2 deadlock and earn themselves a day off before they have to play again. Oklahoma got seven solid innings from starting pitcher Jordan John, who gave up six hits and struck out seven Bears on his way to the win.
Cody Reine slugged a solo home run in the OU half of the seventh inning to pull the Sooners even with the Bears at two runs apiece. Oklahoma, the No. 4 seed in the postseason conference tournament, was able to pull out the win despite committing three errors in the field.
Baylor pushed across its lone runs of the game in the visitor's half of the fourth on three singles and an OU throwing error.
Baylor will next face Kansas State, 11-5 victory over Oklahoma State earlier on Thursday, in an elimination game on Friday. These same two teams tangled in the second game of the tournament on Wednesday, with Baylor winning easily, 11-1. Oklahoma, 2-0 in this year's Championship, will not play again until Saturday, when the Sooners will meet the winner of the Friday Baylor-K-State game.
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