Alexander's Ninth-Inning Homer Gives OU Huge Conference Win Over No. 12 Nebraska

April 5, 2002

Final Stats

LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Oklahoma baseball team (19-10, 7-3 Big 12) made themselves right at home at Nebraska's beautiful, new Hawks Field at Haymarket Park, winning a thrilling 5-4 contest as junior Luke Alexander belted a home run over the right field wall in the ninth inning. It was the second consecutive game in which the lefty from Cathage, Texas, went deep and marked his third homer of the season. Nebraska fell to 19-10 overall, and 7-6 in league play, with the loss.

David Purcey (1-2) picked up his first win as a Sooner, despite giving up a run on two hits and allowing four walks. OU's Mark Roberts out-dueled Nebraska All-American Shane Komine, going five and one third innings, striking out three and allowing just one run on three hits. Komine went 4.2 innings and gave up three runs on six hits, but struck out eight batters.

"What a great win," exclaimed Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell. "This was one of those thrill-a-minute college baseball games and we just hung in and got a really big victory. Mark (Roberts) was in control and had very good stuff for much of the night and Alexander got probably the biggest hit of his OU career. Nebraska is an awfully tough team and we're excited about this win."

NU began the scoring with a run in the first inning as catcher Jed Morris hit a RBI double to right. Oklahoma's bats were quiet until it loaded the bases in the fifth inning, as both Charlie Frasier and Matt Bose singled, then Reggie Willits was hit by a pitch. Eddie Cornejo drew a bases-loaded walk to score a run and Jason Fransz put the Sooners ahead 3-1 with a two-run base hit to center field.

OU added another run in the sixth as Bose smacked a double into the gap in left center to bring Charlie Frasier home. Nebraska had the bags loaded in its half of the sixth, however Roberts and relievers Curtis White and Evan Greusel got the Sooners out of the jam unscathed.

Nebraska had a big eighth inning as they scored three runs to tie the game at four, but Alexander's home run off of Waylon Byers put the Sooners ahead for good. Purcey closed the door on any NU rally and the Sooners handed the Huskers their eighth consecutive loss in one-run games.

"This was a huge win for us," said Alexander. "We really battled against a very good team and I was fortunate enough to get ahold of one in the ninth. He left it up in the zone a little and once I hit it, I had no doubt it was going out."

Fransz went 4-for-5 with two runs batted in and his team-high 11th and 12th doubles of the season in tonight's game. Bose, a candidate for Freshman All-America honors, was 3-for-3 with both a scored and one batted in.

Tonight's attendance of 5,623 was the largest crowd ever to see Nebraska play at home. The night game was NU's first of the season in their new ballpark, however the temperature of 58 degrees at first pitch was a season-high 58 degrees.

The Oklahoma win snapped a five-game losing skid to the Huskers, dating back to March 19, 2000. The Sooners will look to continue their hot play as the teams battle again on Saturday at 2 p.m. Freshman Jarod McAuliff (1-0, 2.61 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start at the collegiate level, while Jamie Rodrigue (4-0, 1.97 ERA) will man the hill for NU.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Alexander's Ninth-Inning Homer Gives OU Huge Conference Win Over No. 12 Nebraska

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