Oklahoma Completes Sweep Of Missouri With 16-10 Win

March 10, 2002

Audio:
L. Cochell
M. Bose

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma completed a three-game series sweep against Missouri with a 16-10 win over the Tigers on Sunday at L. Dale Mitchell Park. After coming back to win the first two games of the series in their last at bat, the Sooners cranked out 17 hits, including a grand slam by junior outfielder Jason Fransz, and cruised to their 10th consecutive win against MU. Oklahoma improved to 11-4 (3-0 Big 12) on the year, while the Tigers fell to 6-7 (0-3).

"This win was very important for us, because starting conference play with three wins gives this young team a lot of confidence," said Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell. "We always want to protect our home field and we want to carry the momentum from this sweep into our upcoming games and especially our next Big 12 series, at Texas A&M in two weeks."

Mark Roberts (3-1) pitched six innings a third and struck out seven en route to the win. Buddy Blair started the game for Oklahoma, however he allowed four runs in an inning and two thirds before being relieved. Cody Ehlers (0-1) took the loss for Missouri.

"This was a good ballgame for us" said Cochell. "We got our bats going and played excellent defensively. I think Mark (Roberts) pitched very well today, despite hanging a couple of sliders. A talented team like Missouri made him pay for that, but overall, he pitched well."

Oklahoma spotted MU a four-run lead in the second inning, however the Sooners answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Eddie Cornejo's two-run base hit. OU again scored four runs, this time in the fourth, as Fransz hit a three-run triple off the right field wall.

The Sooners then sealed the game with a seven-run eighth inning. Cornejo doubled to lead off the inning and Matt Bose reached first on a wild pitch by MU's Mark Alexander. Greg Kish walked to load the bases and then Fransz cleared them with his fifth home run of the season, a towering shot to left center field. Denver Kitch doubled home Brandon Jones and Matt Arkison hit his first home run as a Sooner.

Fransz was 2-for-5 with a double and his grand slam, good for seven runs batted in. The school-record for RBI in a game is nine, most recently set by Chris Ebright against Oklahoma City University in 1987. Cornejo went 3-for-6 for the second consecutive game and Bose, Charlie Frasier and Kitch all added two hits apiece for OU.

Oklahoma returns to action on Tuesday as SEC member Arkansas visits Norman for a 7 p.m. contest. OU hosts Western Illinois on Wednesday at 3 p.m. and then travels to Mesa, Ariz., for a three-game series with nationally-ranked Arizona State.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Completes Sweep Of Missouri With 16-10 Win

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