COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The series opener between No. 22 Oklahoma and No. 4 Texas A&M came down to 12 innings on Thursday with the Aggies winning 4-3 on a sacrifice fly by Krey Bratsen.
Jacob House tied the game at three runs apiece on a sacrifice fly in the eighth off the Sooners’ Steven Okert (4-4), who took the loss despite not allowing a hit with four strikeouts in relief.
OU starter Jordan John exited after 7 1/3 strong innings while his opposition, Michael Wacha, also did not figure into the decision after giving three runs allowed in eight innings with eight strikeouts. John finished with five strikeouts and was charged with all three runs, but only two were earned.
The loss dropped OU to 18-12 overall and 4-6 in Big 12 play while Texas A&M improved to 24-6 and 5-2.
Jack Mayfield led the Sooners with three base knocks and two runs scored while Cody Reine drove in two runs with a double and a walk.
The Sooners struck first with a two-out single through the left side of the infield by Garrett Carey, which brought home Mayfield, who also singled in the second inning.
Texas A&M countered in the home half of the third inning with a two-out hit of their own and then capitalized on the Sooners’ lone error of the game.
In the fourth, Reine doubled to right field and Mayfield scored again for the Sooners, this time to tie things up at two runs apiece. Reine struck again in the sixth inning with a RBI single to score Hunter Lockwood, who walked to begin the frame.
After the Aggies tied up the game in the eighth, Okert retired the next 10 batters before walking the leadoff man in the 12th inning. While Texas A&M was retired in order in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, the Sooners went 1-2-3 in the ninth and 11th before putting two runners on in the 12th and final frame.
A leadoff walk to Reine and the third Aggie error of the night gave the Sooners runners on first and second and nobody out, but a failed bunt attempt by Carey, a fielder’s choice by Erik Ross and a groundout by Brian Brightwell ended the threat.
Game two on Saturday will be carried on the Sooner Sports Network KREF 1400 AM at 6:35 p.m. with OU’s Dillon Overton (4-0, 3.54 ERA) starting opposite TAMU’s Ross Stripling (4-1, 2.87 ERA).
