OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — The No. 2-seeded Bears opened up the 2019 Big 12 Championship much like how they left in 2018, with a big win, this time an 8-2 victory over Oklahoma on Wednesday evening at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
The Bears (34-15) launched three home runs, with Shea Langeliers and Andy Thomas each launching two-run bombs, along with Cole Haring connecting on his team-leading 10th home run of the year.
Thomas and Langeliers each had a team-high two hits on the day, while Thomas led the team with three RBIs. Eight-of-nine Bears in the lineup had at least one hit on the day.
Starter Paul Dickens was outstanding on the day, tossing six scoreless innings before giving up a solo home run to Oklahoma’s Conor McKenna in the top of the seventh inning. That solo shot would be the only run he would give up, scattering six hits while striking out six and only walking two en route to his fifth victory of the year.
The Bears wasted no time getting on the board, as Langeliers launched the two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning. That 2-0 lead held until Thomas doubled the lead with his two-run homer in the fourth.
With a 4-0 lead, the Bears added three more in the bottom of the sixth inning on two hits to break the game open, 7-0 Bears.
After the leadoff home run in the seventh by McKenna made it 7-1 Bears, Ryan Leckich entered and put up a zero for the Bears, allowing them to answer with a solo shot by Haring in the bottom of the seventh.
The Sooners (33-22) added one more in the top of the eighth inning, before Boyd came in to end the eighth and threw a flawless ninth to close things out.
Sooner starter Cade Cavalli took the loss to fall to 5-3 on the year.
The Bears will now face the winner of the TCU vs. Oklahoma State game at 7:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 23.
