Oklahoma's left-handed ace Braden Davis delivered a stellar performance, throwing a complete-game shutout to propel the top-seeded Sooners to a 4-0 victory over ninth-seeded TCU in their opening game of the Big 12 Championship. Davis’ feat marks just the seventh complete-game shutout in the tournament’s history and the first since 2015. Impressively, it is only the fifth to occur in a full nine-inning game.
Davis joined the ranks of Oklahoma greats with this achievement, becoming the second Sooner after Jonathan Gray in 2013 to toss a complete-game shutout at the Big 12 Championship. Across his nine innings, Davis allowed just four hits, issued no walks, and struck out nine batters. He faced the minimum in five of the nine innings, showcasing his dominance and control throughout the game. This performance also marked the first complete game for Oklahoma this season and their fifth shutout, the highest since 2019.
Offensively, the Sooners were propelled by back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning from senior Anthony Mackenzie and junior Jackson Nicklaus. These blasts came off TCU's ace, Peyton Tolle, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, sealing the victory for Oklahoma. The Sooners’ offense first struck in the fourth inning. A walk by senior Michael Snyder and a single from Mackenzie set the stage for Nicklaus, who doubled home Snyder. Senior Kendall Pettis followed with an RBI single, bringing the score to 2-0.
The game began as a pitcher’s duel, with three scoreless innings. TCU threatened in the first inning, but OU’s left fielder Kendall Pettis made a highlight-reel catch, preventing an early run. The Sooners broke the deadlock in the fourth inning and doubled their lead in the sixth with the homers from Mackenzie and Nicklaus, marking the third time this season the team has hit back-to-back home runs.
Davis continued his dominant outing by retiring the side in order in the fifth and managing to leave one stranded in the sixth. He maintained his form through the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, securing the shutout despite allowing a leadoff double in the eighth and a single in the ninth.
Mackenzie and Nicklaus each went 2-for-4 at the plate, with Nicklaus driving in two runs. Six Sooners recorded a base hit in the game, showcasing a well-rounded offensive effort.
With this victory, Oklahoma secured their third consecutive win in the opening game of the Big 12 tournament, dating back to 2022. The Sooners will face Kansas in the winner's bracket game on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. CT, with a spot in the semifinals at stake. Fans can watch the game on Big 12 NOW on ESPN+ or listen locally on SportsTalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM and nationally on The Varsity app.
