John Williams
April 8, 2024 7:00 am CT
The Big 12 title race is heating up now. Over the last two weekends, the Oklahoma State Cowgirls took a series from Texas and the Longhorns beat the Oklahoma Sooners in two out of the three games in Austin. The top of the conference has tightened up, with all three teams within two games of first place.
It wasn’t the weekend the Sooners would have liked with an opportunity to distance themselves from Texas. However, the Sooners’ pitching staff provided a bright spot even in defeat. They held a Texas offense averaging just over seven runs a game to two runs a game in the three-game set.
With 12 games to go, a lot can change, but Oklahoma’s series loss to Texas puts even more emphasis on what will be a huge Bedlam series in Norman to close the regular season.
Here’s how the Big 12 standings look after this weekend’s action.
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Houston Cougars (22-17, 3-12)Her second of the day! @JazzyRollin is on fire! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ElIc1nrTOq
— Houston Softball (@UHCougarSB) April 7, 2024
Houston beat Texas to open Big 12 play, but have gone 2-12 since, getting swept by Oklahoma State and Kansas, and lost series to Iowa State and BYU as well.
Up Next in the Big 12: vs. UCF
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Iowa State Cyclones (13-21, 3-9)T5 | @angelinaa_allen making it happen in left! 🕸️💎
🌪️🥎🌪️ pic.twitter.com/fsMpw67bz6
— Iowa State Softball (@CycloneSB) April 6, 2024
It was a rough series for Iowa State, getting outscored by Kansas 24-3. The Cyclones took two of three from Houston back in the middle of March, but have lost five of six in Big 12 play since.
Up Next in the Big 12: vs. Oklahoma State
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BYU Cougars (21-16, 4-11)And we’re back👏
Watch on ESPN+: https://t.co/hIt6yRpRDo pic.twitter.com/sh8qybOt3P
— BYU Softball (@byusoftball) April 6, 2024
It was a rough weekend for the Cougars in Orlando, dropping a pair of one-run games and losing by five in game two. They’ve won just one series in Big 12 play and then travel to face Oklahoma, coming off a series loss to Texas. Not the best time to be BYU.
Up Next in the Big 12: at Oklahoma
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Texas Tech Red Raiders (24-12, 4-8)Third straight hit gets us on the board! Abbie Orrick with her 23rd RBI of the year
T4 | TTU – 1, BU – 5 pic.twitter.com/P55eD7Hj7Q
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB) April 7, 2024
The Red Raiders took the opener but were held to four runs in the final two games, including a run-rule loss on Sunday.
Up Next in the Big 12: vs. Kansas
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Baylor Bears (21-14, 5-10)Abi called game. #SicEm | #andONE pic.twitter.com/6c0iDW8CON
— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) April 7, 2024
After getting swept by the Sooners, the Baylor Bears have won two series in a row after rallying to take the final two games of their series with Texas Tech. They’ve still got a lot of questions to answer, but they’ve put together a nice run of late.
Up Next in the Big 12: vs. Texas (Friday in Waco, Saturday and Sunday in Austin)
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UCF Knights (21-15, 7-8)Aubrey's first collegiate walk-off hit gives us our second of the season! pic.twitter.com/MqZYmkibkF
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) April 6, 2024
UCF has appeared to hit its stride with a second straight series win, this time sweeping BYU in Orlando. They’re currently riding a five-game conference winning streak ahead of their series next weekend at Houston.
Up Next in the Big 12: at Houston
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Kansas Jayhawks (25-12-1, 10-5)Been cookin’ 🔥
Clinched our 10th conference win yesterday, most since 2001! #RockChalk pic.twitter.com/O59Ne4ndT0
— Kansas Softball (@KUSoftball) April 7, 2024
After getting swept by the Oklahoma Sooners at home, the Kansas Jayhawks rebounded nicely with a sweep of Iowa State, outscoring the Cyclones 24-3 in the three-game set.
Up Next in the Big 12: at Texas Tech
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Texas Longhorns (31-6, 11-4)that post-win feeling 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/7rE5dUMf72
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) April 7, 2024
Texas broke a 15-year series losing streak to the Oklahoma Sooners with stellar pitching over the weekend. It was a strong bounceback after their series loss to Oklahoma State and the Longhorns stayed in the thick of the Big 12 title race.
Up Next in the Big 12: at Baylor
Get more Texas Longhorns news, analysis, and opinions onLonghorns Wire
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Oklahoma State Cowgirls (33-6, 12-3)Everything’s bigger in Texas… even the dubs 😉 #GoPokes | #REP pic.twitter.com/L88pd8IZLb
— OSU Cowgirl Softball (@cowgirlsb) April 7, 2024
It was a close game for the Cowgirls in their opener against Houston on Friday, winning just 3-1, but then Oklahoma State’s offense erupted to outscore the Cougars 21-2 on Saturday and Sunday.
Up Next in the Big 12: at Iowa State
1
Oklahoma Sooners (35-3, 13-2 Big 12)𝐍🚫 ✈️ 𝐙𝐎𝐍𝐄@jaydac00 with the INCREDIBLE leaping grab to end the third!#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/NjveKTzpNO
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) April 7, 2024
It was a rough final two games for the Oklahoma Sooners, who scored just two runs in a pair of 2-1 losses on Saturday and Sunday. With an opportunity to distance themselves from Texas in the Big 12 title race, OU wasn’t able to capitalize as the bats went cold against Longhorns pitching. Still, the Sooners sit in first place with 12 Big 12 games to go.
Up Next in the Big 12: vs. BYU
