Big 12 Softball Tourney Quarterfinals, BYU, Texas & Baylor Win

[OUBeliever56A]

In the three other games of the Big 12 Quarterfinals on Thursday, there was one upset (BYU), one run-rule win (Texas) and one 1-run win (Baylor) outside of the Sooner win in the second run-rule win of the quarterfinals.

In the first game of the day, Oklahoma State was upset by BYU as the Cougars from Utah 7-2 as Chloe Temples pitched a complete game allowing just 7 hits and 2 runs against OSU for the win for BYU. From what I saw, Temples used a change-up very effectively and kept OSU off-stride in the batter's box the entire game. BYU offense made the most of the 7 hits as they scored 2 runs in the 2nd inning, 3 runs in the 4th inning and 2 runs in the 6th inning to take a 7-0 before OSU got their 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th inning. The 7-2 win by BYU advances the Cougars into the Semi-Finals on Friday to play Oklahoma in the 5 PM game.

In their series this season, Oklahoma won 2 of the 3 games with OU winning games 1 and 3 by the scores of 8-0 (5) and 7-3 and BYU winning game 2 by the score of 4-9.

In the first game of the evening session, Texas Tech might have woken the Longhorns up as they scored a run in the top of the 1st inning with the aide of a Texas error to lead 1-0. But Texas regained focus quickly and scored 3 runs to retake the lead in the game. Texas scored 5 more runs in the bottom of the second inning to lead 8-1. Tech did battle back to score 3 runs in the top of the 3rd to close get within 4 runs as the score was 8-4. A Texas 3-run HR by Viviana Martinez made it 11-3 in the bottom of the 3rd. It was the 4th HR of the game by Texas. Texas scored 2 more runs in the bottom of the 4th to lead 12-4. Texas Tech failed to score in the top of the 5th allowing Texas to win in a run-rule victory 12-4.

I will note that there was a horrible obstruction call against Texas Tech on a steal of second base in the Texas - Tech game that I saw. Somehow the umpire at second base called obstruction on the SS for Texas when the SS caught the ball on the inside of the bag (towards home plate) leaving the entire bag wide open to the runner. The SS easily tagged the runner, Dayton, before she got to the bag. As the play unfolded, the umpire from a position where he could not accurately see the placement of the SS foot, raised his left arm for obstruction. It was a horrible call in every way. The Tech SS almost fainted I think. The Tech coach came out and discussed and then asked for a review and somehow it was still called obstruction.

In the final game of the day, Baylor won over UCF 3-2 in a closely played game. Aliyah Binford and Sara Willis pitched complete games for Baylor and UCF. Binford also hit a HR in the bottom of the 2nd inning to give Baylor a 1-0 lead. Baylor also singled in a run in the bottom of the 5th to lead 2-0. Halajian, for UCF, hit a 2-run HR to tie the game in the top of the 6th. Govan picked up the game-winning hit on a single in the bottom of the 6th inning to make the score 3-2. The game ended with a Binford strike out of Willis with a runner on first base. Baylor advances to the Semi-Finals to play Texas in the 7:30 PM game on Friday.

Texas swept their series over Baylor this season as they won the games by the scores of 14-1 (6), 9-6 and 9-5.

[TN Sooner]

Here is the obstruction call - just horrible umpiring all around.

[SoonerGirl1201]

I think the collective softball world is willing texas to the NC this year....