Baseball Opens Season With Victory

Feb. 5, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma baseball team opened the 2000 season with a 9-4 victory over Oklahoma Baptist today at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman. The Sooners (1-0), who ran their winning streak in season openers to 17 games, used an eight-run seventh inning to come from behind and defeat the Bison (0-1).

Trailing 2-1 entering the seventh inning, OU pounded out eight runs on seven hits, including a grand-slam home run by centerfielder Jerome Godsey. The Sooners loaded the bases for Godsey on a lead-off walk by shortstop Tommy Whiteman and two consecutive singles by rightfielder Sean Murphy and catcher Eliot Joyner.

OU manufactured the remaining runs in the eighth by benefitting from two walks and three steals. Following the Godsey grand slam, third baseman Jason Bartlett walked, stole second and advanced to third on an error on the Bison catcher. After second baseman Zach Lekse singled home Bartlett, pinch runner Chad Cochell stole second and first baseman Rick Park picked up the second walk of the inning. Leftfielder Lance Williams doubled in Cochell and advanced Park to third. Designated hitter Jeff Bajenaru drove in Park on a sacrifice fly to left. Williams finished the scoring by being driven home on a single by Murphy.

Godsey, Lekse, Murphy and Williams all collected two hits a piece and accounted for eight RBIs combined.

Michael Bradbury (1-0) picked up the win for the Sooners by pitching the entire eighth inning. Losing OBU pitcher Lance Jordan (0-1) surrendered five of the runs in the seventh inning after relieving starter Wesley Faust, who held Oklahoma to one hit through 4.2 innings of work.

Oklahoma finishes its home-opening weekend set against Central Oklahoma tomorrow at 1 p.m. at L. Dale Mitchell Park.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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