Davis throws complete game shutout, OU wins Big 12 tourney opener

ARLINGTON, Texas — OU starting left-handed pitcher Braden Davis threw a complete-game shutout as top-seeded Oklahoma rolled to a 4-0 win over nine-seed TCU in its opening game at the Big 12 Championship.

Davis’ complete game shutout was the seventh in conference tournament history, first since 2015, and just the fifth in nine innings. Davis joined Jonathan Gray (2013) as the only Sooners to toss complete-game shutouts at the Big 12 Championship.

Davis went nine full, surrendering just four hits with no walks and nine strikeouts. The junior lefty faced the minimum in five of nine innings. It was the first complete game for the Sooners this season and OU’s fifth shutout, the most since 2019.

Offensively, back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning from senior Anthony Mackenzie and junior Jackson Nicklaus off Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and TCU starter Peyton Tolle propelled OU (35-18) to the opening-round victory.

A pitcher’s duel between two of the Big 12’s best led to three scoreless innings to start. OU senior left fielder Kendall Pettis showed off his glove in the first inning with a highlight reel catch to rob TCU of the first run of the game after a double had one on with one out.

The Oklahoma offense got on the board at the bottom of the fourth. After a walk drawn by senior Michael Snyder and single from Mackenzie, Nicklaus doubled home Snyder and senior Kendall Pettis brought in Nicklaus on an RBI single to make it 2-0 OU after four.

Davis retired the side in order at the top of the fifth and left one stranded in the sixth before OU doubled its lead in the home half.

Mackenzie led off the bottom of the sixth with his seventh home run of the season on a shot to left center. The next pitch, Nicklaus launched his ninth of the season to right center. It marked the third time the Sooners have hit back-to-back home runs in 2024.

Davis (W, 9-3) put the Frogs down in order in the seventh and stranded a leadoff double in the eighth and single in the ninth to finish off the shutout.

Mackenzie and Nicklaus each went 2-for-4 to lead OU at the plate, with Nicklaus plating a pair. Six Sooners registered a base hit.

OU’s victory was the third straight win in its opening game of the Big 12 tourney dating back to 2022.

The Sooners advance to face Kansas (30-21) Thursday at 12:30 p.m. CT in a winner’s bracket game with a semifinal spot on the line.

The game can be seen via Big 12 NOW on ESPN+ and heard locally in Oklahoma on SportsTalk 1400 AM/99.3 FM or nationwide on The Varsity app.