Texas Tech softball opened the 2018 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship with a thrilling 6-5 win over No. 17 Baylor before falling 7-6 to Oklahoma State in the nightcap on a windy Friday at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Red Raiders (29-25, 5-13) scored two runs in the top of the seventh to defeat Baylor, moving a win away from the Big 12 title game. Tech, however, dug itself into a 7-0 hole against the Cowgirls and its comeback bid fell short on a controversial game-ending double play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh.

All three teams from Pool B finished 1-1 in pool play. Tiebreakers will advance No. 3 Baylor to the Big 12 title game and No. 5 Texas Tech to the third place game, while No. 2 OSU will play for fifth. The Red Raiders will take on No. 4 Texas on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. on FOX College Sports.

The victory over the Lady Bears extended Tech’s winning streak to eight games, its longest streak since 2013. It also marked its first win over Baylor since 2013, as well as its highest win over a ranked opponent since the 2013 win over Baylor when the Lady Bears were No. 15.

After leading for much of the game against Baylor, Tech found itself trailing 5-4 heading to the top of the seventh. With runners on second and third, freshman Kelcy Leach hit an RBI single to tie the game, and then the go-ahead run would come home moments later off a Baylor error at third base.

Freshman Erin Edmoundson (15-10) went the distance against Baylor and then tossed five scoreless frames against OSU in game two. Edmoundson not only got it done in the circle Friday, but tallied four hits on the day, including a 3-for-4 game against Baylor with two RBI and a run scored. .

In the second game, OSU put six runs across in the second to take a 7-1 lead through two. Tech began chipping away in the fifth when junior Jessica Hartwell hit her school-record 20th home run of the season to close the gap to 7-3. Hartwell narrowly missed a grand slam in the next inning, but the catch was made at the wall to limit Tech to just one run in the frame on Hartwell’s sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, Tech cut the lead to 7-6 and had the bases loaded with one out, but the Cowgirls were able to turn a game-ending double play to secure the win.

Hartwell went 4-for-7 on the day with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Redshirt freshman Michaela Cochran had a big day, going 7-for-8 on the day, including 4-for-4 against the Lady Bears.

Edmoundson totaled 12 innings pitched on Friday, giving up three earned runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts to five walks. The complete game against BU was her ninth on the year. Sophomore Kassidy Scott (11-10) suffered the loss in the start against OSU.

No. 5 Texas Tech will face No. 4 Texas on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. for third place on FOX College Sports. The Red Raiders were swept by the Longhorns earlier this season in Austin.

For all things Texas Tech softball, keep up with the Red Raiders on Twitter and Instagram at @TexasTechSB and online at www.TexasTech.com.

(Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)