No. 24 Oklahoma Tops Archrival Texas, 6-5, In Series Opener

April 12, 2002

NORMAN, Okla. - After falling behind 5-2 in the third inning, the University of Oklahoma baseball team bounced back and rallied to top No. 9 Texas 6-5 in front of a season-high 2,225 fans at L. Dale Mitchell Park on Friday night. Mark Roberts (3-2) pitched seven innings and allowed five runs on six hits, while striking out three en route to the win. Evan Greusel recorded his second save by pitching two perfect innings and freshman Matt Bose brought home the winning run with an RBI base hit in the seventh inning. Oklahoma improved to 20-13 on the season and 8-5 in Big 12 play, while the Longhorns are now 29-10 and 7-6 in conference action.

"This is a very big win for us," said Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell. "All conference games are big, but with the rivalry with Texas and with both teams being tied in the Big 12 standings, tonight's win was very important for us. We have let a couple games get away from us in the later innings, so holding on for this one was big. Mark (Roberts) had good stuff tonight and with the exception of one inning, pitched a very good ball game. We made plays when we needed to."

Oklahoma began the scoring with two tallies in the second inning as Greg Kish and Charlie Frasier each drove in runs. Texas answered with five runs in the third, including a towering, three-run home run by slugging first baseman Jeff Ontiveros. The homer was Ontiveros' 44th of his career, moving him ahead of Brooks Kieschnick, currently in the Cleveland Indians organization, into first in the UT record books in that category.

Oklahoma, however, answered in the third with two crucial runs of its own to bring the game to 5-4. OU strung together three consecutive hits which led to the tallies, beginning with a Luke Alexander double to the center field wall that scored Eddie Cornejo from first base. Jason Fransz singled and Ryan Richardson then roped a base hit to left field to bring Alexander home.

The Sooners tied the contest at five in the fourth as Charlie Frasier led off the inning with a walk and then stole second base (his first steal of the season). After advancing to third on a balk by Texas' Jesen Merle, Denver Kitch roped a single into center field and brought the OU first baseman home.

Oklahoma took the lead for good in the seventh as Matt Bose blooped a single into center field to score Fransz, who was hit by a pitch and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Richardson. The game-winning hit was the first for the Freshman All-America candidate.

The Red River baseball series continues tomorrow with a 2 p.m. first pitch at Mitchell Park. Curtis White (0-0, 4.05 ERA) will be making his first start as a Sooner after pitching out of the bullpen all year, while Justin Simmons (9-0, 1.91 ERA) will man the hill for the Longhorns. The series concludes with a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

No. 24 Oklahoma Tops Archrival Texas, 6-5, In Series Opener

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