NORMAN — Pete Hughes' stomach dropped.
Heading into the ninth inning of Oklahoma's March 11 game against Buffalo, up 5-1, Hughes had considered removing veteran first baseman Austin O'Brien for the last inning.
But it was too cold to throw a new guy in there at that point. Besides, it was just three outs away from a win, and the likelihood of it being anything other than a routine frame was virtually nil.
Then Phillip Tomasulo grounded a ball to third, and Jack Flansburg's throw led O'Brien's elbow into Tomasulo's path.
O'Brien's cleats were firmly planted in the turf, and Tomasulo's momentum concentrated on O'Brien's left — non-throwing — elbow.