No. 18 Oklahoma Drops 5-4 Nail-biter to No. 17 Texas A&M

March 22, 2002

Final Stats

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Oklahoma baseball team (15-6, 3-1 Big 12), currently ranked No. 18 in the nation, dropped a 5-4 contest to the No. 17 Texas A&M Aggies in front of 6,009 fans at A&M's Olsen Field. After the Aggies tied the game and loaded the bases in the ninth inning, shortstop Matt Alexander hit a sacrifice fly to score Justin Pouk and seal the game.

David Purcey (0-1) took the loss for Oklahoma after giving up two runs on three hits in an inning and two thirds. Mark Roberts started for OU and pitched seven innings, struck out six and allowed three runs on seven hits. Logan Kensing (3-0) got the win for A&M, despite pitching just two-thirds of an inning. Justin Moore started for the Aggies, pitched 8.1 innings and struck out 11 Sooners.

"This is a tough loss for us because we certainly had opportunities to win the game," said Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell. "We were in the situation we wanted with (David) Purcey on the mound, but we made some mistakes and just let them get the tying and winning runs. We didn't adjust well at the plate, but we're just going to come back tomorrow and try to bounce back."

Texas A&M took an early lead with a run in the first inning, however the Sooners answered with two scores in the third as Eddie Cornejo sacrificed Reggie Willits home and Matt Bose knocked a base hit into left field to score Denver Kitch. The Aggies evened the score at two and took the lead once again in the sixth as first baseman Neal Stephenson deposited a Roberts pitch over the right field wall for his fifth homer of the season, a solo shot.

In the eighth, Matt Bose reached on a fielder's choice and with two outs, Jason Fransz hit a two-run homer the other way to give OU a 4-3 lead. The home run was Fransz' seventh of the year and marked the second consecutive game in which the junior from Corona, Calif., homered.

A&M, however, mounted a ninth-inning rally as Erik Schindewolf walked and Pouk advanced him to third with a double to right field. Eddie Lang singled to bring home Schindewolf, Alexander flied out to left and Pouk beat Fransz' throw for the winning run.

The two teams resume action tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. The starting pitchers for both teams are still to be determined.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

No. 18 Oklahoma Drops 5-4 Nail-biter to No. 17 Texas A&M

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