OU Baseball Falls To Red Raiders

The University of Oklahoma baseball team failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position early on an ultimately fell to No. 10 Texas Tech, 6-1, in front of 1,227 at L. Dale Mitchell Park, Friday night. The Sooners dropped to 15-9 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12, while the Red Raiders improved to 16-6 and 1-0.

The two teams were scoreless through the first three innings. Oklahoma got runners into scoring position in each of the first three innings and stranded five runners on base.

“You look at the score of that game and you look at the average with runners in scoring position, that's where they beat us,” stated head coach Pete Hughes. “Two-out hits. Early on we could've gotten on the board with a couple of two-out hits. We had our chances.”

Texas Tech capitalized for the first run of the night in the top of the fourth. First baseman Eric Gutierrez was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and stole second. With two outs, he scored easily on a double to the warning track in left off the bat of second baseman Ryan Long.

In the sixth, a walk and a double put two runners in scoring position with two outs for Tech. Shortstop Tim Proudfoot delivered both baserunners to the plate with a base hit through the right side and push the score to 3-0. The Sooners got a run back in the bottom half. Redshirt-senior right fielder Taylor Alspaugh led off the home half with his second single of the day and came around to score on a fielder's choice/E6.

The Red Raiders added two runs in the eighth against the Sooner bullpen.

Right-hander Ryan Moseley (2-2) was dominant in the win for Texas Tech. He pitched seven innings; allowing one unearned run on three hits and two walks, while striking out six. Right-handed reliever Corey Taylor came in for the final two innings and sat down all six batters he faced.

For Oklahoma, sophomore RHP Jake Elliott took the loss to fall to 3-2 on the season. He lasted six innings and surrendered three runs on four hits and three walks to go with five strikeouts. As a staff, Elliott and three OU relievers combined for 11 strikeouts.

“When you have three hits and one run, every single pitch is crucial,” reflected Hughes. “[Elliott], we couldn't let him breathe. We couldn't let him relax and execute every pitch he had to make. It was crucial because we were chasing, chasing, chasing. He pitched good enough to have us win that game. We didn't help him out.”

At the top of the Tech batting order, designated hitter Cory Raley produced a 3-for-4 night with two RBI and a run scored.

Game two of the series is set for 2:00 pm Saturday afternoon. Sophomore right-hander Alec Hansen takes the mound for the Sooners.