Sooner Baseball Team Cruises To 7-1 Win Over Arkansas

March 12, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma baseball team (12-4, 3-0 Big 12) extended two very telling streaks in Tuesday night's 8-2 win over Arkansas, which fell to 8-6 with the loss. The Sooners won their fourth consecutive game, a team-high on the young season, and had 10-or-more hits for the sixth game in a row with 11. Austin Mix (3-1) got the win for Oklahoma after pitching six innings, allowing just one runs and striking out seven. Freshman David Purcey got his first ever collegiate save by pitching three perfect innings and striking out five.

"This is probably the best we've played all season and it was against good competition in Arkansas," said Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell. "It was a complete game, in that we pitched well, played good defense and hit the ball well. I thought Austin Mix pitched extremely well. His slider was really good tonight and probably should've had a shutout, minus one misplay. (David) Purcey really performed nicely in relief and has a chance to be special."

The Sooners got off to a fast start, scoring two runs in the first inning which proved to be enough to hold off the Razorbacks. Eddie Cornejo reached base on a fielder's choice and Chris Jakubauskas' double brought him home. Jason Franz, the reigning Big Player of the Week, then hit a base hit to drive in Jakubauskas.

Matt Bose hit his third home run of the season in the fourth inning, a towering two-run shot over the scoreboard in left field. Also in the fourth, Reggie Willits drove in his 13th run of the season. Tyler Johnson's pinch hit triple off the wall in the seventh drove in a run, as did Spencer Wyman's double in the same inning.

"Matt Bose is an excellent breaking ball hitter and is really turning into a tough out," said Cochell. "He drove a hanging slider way out and he's gotten into a good rhythm hitting out of the three hole."

OU's hurlers held Arkansas to just five hits, just shy of the season-best four hits allowed to Lamar on Feb. 23. Mix battled a shoulder injury to begin the season, however has solidified a spot in the starting rotation and should take the mound Sunday against Arizona State. Purcey's five strikeouts tonight give him 21 on the season, third-best on the team.

"I'm happy with how I pitched tonight," said Mix. "I was able to get guys out with two outs and the jam I got myself out of in the fourth was huge. Arkansas is probably the best team we've played this season and it was a good effort all around."

The Sooners return to action tomorrow night as the Leathernecks of Western Illinois (1-10) visit L. Dale Mitchell Park for an out-of-conference tilt. Oklahoma travels to Hohokam Park in Mesa, Ariz., to face the No. 11 Arizona State Sun Devils in a three-game set this weekend.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooner Baseball Team Cruises To 7-1 Win Over Arkansas

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