Oklahoma Rally Falls Short In 7-6 Loss To Nebraska

April 6, 2002

Final Stats

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Oklahoma Sooners dropped a hard-fought Big 12 Conference game to Nebraska, 7-6, Saturday at NU's Hawks Field. Behind three runs in the ninth inning, the Sooners rallied to score two runs and had runners on the corners with two outs, however NU reliever Jason Burch got Jason Fransz to fly out to seal the game. With the loss, OU is now 19-11 (7-4 Big 12).

"This was a tough ball game," said Oklahoma head coach Larry Cochell. "We made a really good run and I was proud of the way our guys hung in there and battled back. Our ninth-inning rally almost got it done. We had 13 hits and Curtis White pitched an outstanding game in relief, but we just couldn't get it done. This ball club is getting better everyday though, there's no doubt about that."

Jarod McAuliff (1-1) took the loss in his second start as a Sooner, after giving up five runs on seven hits in two innings pitched. Curtis White pitched six excellent frames, striking out four and allowing just two unearned runs on four hits. Jamie Rodrigue (5-0) won his fifth game of the season for the Huskers after pitching 8.2 innings.

As was the case in Friday night's game, Nebraska went ahead early with a run in the first inning. But with a three-run second inning, it didn't take the Sooners long to get on top. Charlie Frasier knocked a base hit into center field to score Ryan Richardson, and Denver Kitch hit his second triple of the season to bring in two more runs, in Matt Bose and Frasier.

The Huskers answered OU's rally with four runs in their half of the second, including a three-run home run by CF Jeff Leise, to go up 5-3. Nebraska added two more runs in the fifth to extend its lead to four.

In the seventh inning, Frasier smacked a Rodrigue pitch over the center field wall for a solo home run, bringing the Sooners back within three runs. It was Frasier's seventh dinger of the season.

In the ninth, Oklahoma loaded the bases with consecutive base hits by Frasier, Kitch and Reggie Willits. OU drew within one on a Cornejo sacrifice fly, and Luke Alexander ripped a base hit to right to make it 7-6. With runners at the corners, Burch entered the game and Fransz, OU cleanup hitter, hit a long fly ball directly at NU RF Adam Riddle.

Frasier went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two batted in, and Kitch was also 3-for-4, with two runs driven in. Eddie Cornejo had a single, a double and a sacrifice fly in today's game.

The Sooners and Cornhuskers will battle in the series rubber match on Sunday at 2 p.m. CST. Senior Michael Bradbury (2-0, 1.93 ERA) will be OU's starting pitcher for tomorrow's contest, while Aaron Marsden (1-1, 1.03 ERA) will man the mound for Nebraska.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Rally Falls Short In 7-6 Loss To Nebraska

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